Five amazing Dubai-based restaurants were awarded the highest points in the UAE at the Gault&Millau UAE Gala.
The Gala, which took place on Thursday May 27 at the iconic Burj Al Arab, saw many of Dubai’s top chefs and restauranteurs in attendance.
Coming out on top and scooping up three and four toques, were five of Dubai restaurants, which are now rated as the best restaurants in the UAE, according to French-born fine dining food critique guide Gault&Millau.
The ratings are the result of investigations by Gault&Millau’s team of independent reviewers, all carried out anonymously and paid for in full.
Those in attendance at the awards were the first to get their hands on the Gault&Millau UAE 2023 guide, which is its second outing in the region.
Ossiano at Atlantis The Palm was named Gault&Millau’s Restaurant of the Year after receiving the highest score in the UAE and claiming four-toque status in this year’s Gault&Millau UAE Guide.
In 2023, the restaurant increased its score from 15.5 to 17.5, thanks to the efforts of chef Grégoire Berger and his team.
Renowned among Dubai foodies for his unique culinary approach, Berger is widely regarded as one of the most creative and innovative chefs in the UAE. The chef built an award-winning degustation menu inspired by childhood memories and life experiences, with dishes born from real events and emotion.
Ossiano offers stunning views of The Ambassador Lagoon, where 65,000 marine animals swim peacefully with the current – meaning guests can enjoy a beautiful underwater experience while they dine.
Also receiving four toques, Al Muntaha was acknowledged as one of the UAE’s best restaurants at the Gault&Millau award ceremony with a score of 17 points. Located on the very top floor of the gilded Burj Al Arab, Al Muntaha is perched on the edge of the building with panoramic views across the Arabian Gulf.
Decorated with hues of blues and greens to mimic the colours of the Gulf found below, Al Muntaha serves French food with Italian flair.
French fine dining spot L’Atelier de Jöel Robuchon was awarded a high score of 15/20 and three toques at the celebratory Gault&Millau event.
Located in DIFC, L’Atelier du Joël Robuchon is one of the culinary highlights in the neighbourhood and should be your first port of call for classic French food with a modern twist. The popular spot delivers an exciting and all-encompassing experience featuring excellently executed food, drinks, music and entertainment.
Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara originally started as a pop-up slot at the iconic Burj Al Arab, inside the famous Al Mahara restaurant. Now a permanent fixture, Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara was awarded three toques and a score of 15.5 at the UAE’s Gault&Millau gala.
The menu offers signature Capri flavours including the finest seafood, served in one of Dubai’s most iconic dining rooms. According to Gault&Millau, Ristorante L’Olivo is a lesson in fine dining from Italy.
Trèsind Studio offers something very unique to the UAE dining scene; inventive and molecular Indian gastronomy that has been taken to the next level. The multi-course degustation dining destination was awarded three toques with a score of 15.5 out of 20.
Helmed by Himanshu Saini, whose influence can be felt across the restaurant industry in Dubai, Trèsind Studio has shown growth and a deeper understanding of seasonal ingredients.
Saini was also recognised as Gault&Millau’s Chef of the Year for provoking people to think differently about Indian cuisine.
Gault&Millau is a guidebook of restaurants that was established in 1965 by Henri Gault and Christian Millau in France. Both men were restaurant critics, who published the first Gault&Millau Guide in 1965.
The guidebook uses a points system to score restaurants on a scale of 0 to 20. Ratings between 11 and 20 are denoted by a ‘toque’ rating ranging from one to five. Gault&Millau’s evaluations are based on the entire dining experience, including the ambience, tableware quality, service, drinks offers, staff knowledge, and most importantly, the food’s quality.
