Can restaurateur Tom Arnel bring his culinary charm to DIFC?
If you suffer from food indecision, then we have some good news. The Guild in Dubai offers different settings for different moods. The one stop shop boasts multiple spaces under one expansive roof. We visited the fine dining restaurant, The Salon – and can confirm that this is a showstopping spot.
The Guild has been created by Tom Arnel, who is behind the hospitality hits Common Grounds, Hawkerboi, Splendour Fields and Tom & Serg. So, it comes as no surprise to see him work his creative charm across the 17,000 square metre space, each with its own name and theme. The Avenue is lined with ghaf trees, and open for lunch, snacks and drinks. The Potting Shed is a gorgeous greenhouse, and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. The Rockpool has live seafood, so you can choose your dishes. And, on our visit, the Piano Bar opened for music and drinks.
Vikum Sampath Wickramasinghe, Assistant Restaurant Manager at The Guild Dubai, explained: “When you have had your dinner, if you still want to stay with us, we have The Aviary. We have a whisky bar, cigar lounge and food bar with a pianist and DJ. The whole point is to give the guests an experience from breakfast to dinner. Then, after the dinner, keep them here and they can have everything: breakfast, dinner and party.”
When we visited The Guild, we were struck by the beauty of the venue, which draws its inspiration from New York brasseries. The entrance was easy to spot, thanks to the red carpet and gold posts, which gave it an air of old-school glamour. The décor combined deep reds with soft greens, as there were pretty plants. It feels like you’ve entered a secret garden, and it brings a touch of personality to the somewhat serious DIFC.
On our way in, we spotted ladies enjoying after work drinks, locals dining out and even a family with children. The Salon was buzzing with business meetings, and smart suits were closing deals. The seats ranged from intimate spots for two, to round tables for eight, all with white tablecloths and G embossed napkins. Plus, front row seats by the open kitchen’s theatrical dining experience with soaring flames, chefs in white jackets and hats, and stacks of logs and plates.
The Salon’s menu is a tribute to European and New York brasseries. The menu spans oysters, caviar, raw bar, sustainable tuna, shellfish, starters, mains, steaks, sharing plates, sides and desserts. Even the menu is playful, as it includes fun illustrations, from a crab scooping up caviar to a mermaid drinking wine.
The Roasted Beetroot combined kale, pesto and a goat’s cheese mousse, and was a sweet start to the meal. The Ortiz Anchovies was an unexpected highlight due to its soft, silky texture, and it was served with a side of sourdough bread topped with caviar. The Roasted Bone Marrow with Garlic Snails’ flavours had not infused as much as we had hoped, but the epic proportions put a smile on our face – this was the largest bone marrow we had ever seen.
The mains include prime steaks, racks, ribs and fish, and sharing plates. The Basque Style Baked Rice was served with carabineros, king crab, mussels and scallops. While the rice was on the al dente side, the saffron flavours gave it a rich finish.
The desserts include cheese, ice cream and sweet dishes. The Strawberry with strawberry compote and almond crumble came with a moreish Greek yoghurt sorbet, which we loved so much, we ordered it twice.
The Guild’s drinks menu spans classic to creative cocktails including an Espresso, Deep Sea Martini, Negroni and Paloma. Plus, there are seasonal gins, and non-alcoholic mocktails as well as wine.
Each night there is entertainment, which ranges from DJs to percussionists. On our visit, the music did not match the space – a jazz musician wouldn’t be out of place, but instead we had loud dance beats from 7pm onwards. The staff were gracious and checked in on us regularly. And, given the dramatic décor, it was fitting that every dish was served like a show in a venue that offers a never-ending experience.
The Guild: make sure you’re sitting comfortably, as the show will go on. And on.
GO: Visit www.theguilddubai.com for more information.
