ORFALI BROS BISTRO TAKES NO.1 SPOT AS THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA'S

ORFALI BROS BISTRO TAKES NO.1 SPOT AS THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS LIST IS REVEALED FOR 2023

● Orfali Bros Bistro in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is named The Best Restaurant in Middle East & North Africa 2023, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, and The Best Restaurant in the UAE

● The list includes winners from 14 different cities across the MENA region, from Marrakech and Tunis to Riyadh and Kuwait City

● OCD Restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, is awarded the Sustainable Restaurant Award, sponsored by Arla Pro ● Em Sherif in Beirut, Lebanon, wins the Art of Hospitality Award

● Chef Moustafa Elrefaey is voted by his peers as the winner of the Estrella Damm N.A. Chefs' Choice Award

● Karim Bourgi takes home the MENA’s Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Valrhona

● Fusions by Tala in Manama, Bahrain wins the Highest Climber Award, rising 36 spots to No.3

● Ossiano in Dubai is the recipient of the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles, after landing at No.4

30 January 2023 – The culinary stars of the restaurant world converged in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi this evening for the second edition of the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. Restaurants from across 14 cities within the Middle East and North Africa were announced as the 50 best places to eat in the region at an event held in Conrad Abu Dhabi, Etihad Towers. Hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the event culminated in the announcement of the region’s No.1 restaurant, Orfali Bros Bistro, whose team took to the stage to receive the award.

For the full 1-50 list, please see the attached graphic or scroll to the bottom of this release.

Orfali Bros Bistro, an unlicensed gastronomic bistro and test kitchen located in Dubai’s buzzing contemporary Wasl 51 neighbourhood, was founded in 2021 by three brothers originally from Syria: Mohammad, Wassim and Omar Orfali. The menu features dishes with a core Middle Eastern theme paying homage to the brothers’ Aleppian roots, while capturing the multiculturalism and avant-garde spirit of Dubai. Their OB croquettes, shish barak à la gyoza and corn bomb all serve to push the boundaries of culinary creativity, ensuring a thrilling dining experience, which is led by charismatic head chef Mohammad Orfali. Brothers Wassim and Omar are both top-level pastry chefs and work from an elevated pastry kitchen which overlooks the main dining room. One of the most distinctive restaurants in the UAE, Orfali Bros Bristro has now earned the highly coveted ranking as the best restaurant in the MENA region.

The fine dining Indian restaurant Trèsind Studio in The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, headed by chef Himanshu Saini, claims the (No.2) spot. It is followed by Fusions by Tala in Manama (No.3), which is also named The Best Restaurant in Bahrain and takes home the Highest Climber Award 2023, while Dubai’s Ossiano (No.4) is awarded the Highest New Entry prize, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles.