Where Restaurateurs Eat: Column 12
Gabriela Chamorro, executive chef and founder of Girl & The Goose shares her favourite restaurants.
If you’ve recently joined my Substack tribe, you might like to check out the first 11 Where Restaurateurs Eat columns to give you some context before reading the recommendations from this month’s super woman.
Nominations for aspirational female restaurateur-entrepreneurs are always much appreciated. They might not be on my radar - and could land themselves a feature here. Or shall I start interviewing men too? 😉
Google Maps link here with the UAE restaurant recommendations from our power ladies - populated monthly as each column is published. All interviews are linked HERE.
And now let’s hear from…
Gabriela Chamorro, executive chef and founder of Girl & The Goose shares her favourite restaurants.
If you missed it, my restaurant review of Girl & Goose is linked here.
I find myself drawn to places that feel alive. Restaurants where the food reflects a strong sense of identity; the service feels like a warm embrace; and the energy makes you want to stay a little longer. Here are a few of my favourite spots that I tend to return to, time and time again.
Her top three go-to, favourite restaurants in the UAE. Plus a supper club!
Boca: A place I deeply connect with, not just for the food, but for Boca’s values and what it stands for. Its commitment to sustainability and close collaboration with local producers is something I admire. The menu is always evolving, yet consistently thoughtful. The team leads with passion and purpose, and that sense of responsibility makes dining here feel genuinely exciting.
21grams: There is something deeply nostalgic woven into the experience at 21grams. Rooted in Balkan heritage, it has mastered the art of soulful cooking, with an approach that’s humble and heartfelt. I love how the menu unfolds like a story, where each dish feels like a chapter. The space is welcoming and familiar, almost like being invited into someone’s home. It is warm, grounding, and deeply nourishing in every sense.
Bait Maryam: Chef Salam cooks with heart, infusing every dish with Palestinian and broader Levantine tradition and warmth. She’s created a space that feels personal and comforting, just like being welcomed to a family table. Her food is simple, honest, and full of soul. It’s also one of my go-to delivery spots when I’m craving comfort and deeply flavourful dishes.
I’m also squeezing in a home supper club - Tiff’s Table. Hosted in the apartment of South African-born chef and food writer Tiffany Eslick, this intimate supper club brings together strangers over seasonal dishes made with local produce. The setting is intimate and vibrant, and the experience is refreshing. It is a thoughtful celebration of food and stories that reminds us that food is as much about connection as it is about flavour.
One home country restaurant:
Porterhouse Steaks: Whenever I am back home in Nicaragua, in Managua, and I want to enjoy a special meal with my family, we always return to Porterhouse. Whilst the steaks are exceptional, the experience is more than just the food served. It’s the atmosphere, the memories, and that unmistakable feeling of being home.
One restaurant located elsewhere internationally:
Plachutta: My introduction to the soul of Austrian cuisine in Vienna. The tafelspitz, served with such pride and passion, made me fall in love with the way food can preserve heritage. Back when I was cabin crew, it became a place I returned to again and again, not just for the food, but because they made me feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. Each visit left a lasting impression and continues to shape the way I think about hospitality and tradition.
You may have missed…
The home page shows tabs for Restaurant Reviews; Where Restaurateurs Eat Columns; Culinary Travel Guides; News Bites; and FooDiva-curated events.
My 2025 Dubai restaurant guide to where I dine out. A record 47 homegrown concepts. Paid subscribers also receive a PDF of this guide and a private Google maps link with all restaurants mapped out.
My ten-page story celebrating Dubai’s homegrown restaurant scene, my favourite subject in the print issue of Conde Nast Traveler USA - and also repackaged for both the UK edition, and the Middle East.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book with new finds every month.
A private one-hour Zoom call with me to pick my brains. More info here for F&B industry enquiries - and here for foodie/ diner queries.
Looking for a gift for a foodie friend? Perhaps consider an annual subscription to this newsletter with the added bonus of restaurant reviews, breaking news, advance notice of my dining experiences, invitations to special events, and direct message access to moi. You’ll have my forever love.
If you’d like to connect with me on other social channels, you’ll find me on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
FooDiva. x
A warm and uplifting read.