WINNERS OF THE MENA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS AWARDS FOR 2023 ANNOUNCED
The second edition of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.pellegrino & Acqua Panna, recently brought together the culinary elite of the restaurant industry in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The event was held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and culminated in the announcement of the region’s top restaurant, Orfali Bros Bistro (No.1). The concept was founded in 2021 by three brothers, Mohammad, Wassim and Omar Orfali, who are from Syria.
Second place was awarded to the fine -dining Indian restaurant Trèsind Studio on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, which is run by chef Himanshu Saini. The Best Restaurant in Bahrain, Fusions by Tala in Manama, came in at third place and received the Highest Climber Award 2023, while Ossiano in Dubai was named fourth and received the Highest New Entry award from Aspire Lifestyles. 3 Fils, which won top honors in the previous list, came in at fifth this year.
Riyadh’s Myazu (No.18) won the Best Restaurant in Saudi Arabia title. Morocco was also well-represented with four restaurants featured in the ranking, including La Grande Table Marocaine (No.27), making it The Best Restaurant in Morocco. Lebanon was also mentioned in the top 20, with Baron (No.16) in Beirut named The Best Restaurant in Lebanon.
Tunis’ La Closerie (No.34) claimed the title of Best Restaurant in Tunisia, while the animeinspired Japanese eatery White Robata in Kuwait City came in at 42, making it the Best Restaurant in Kuwait.
Chef Moustafa Elrefaey, executive chef and co-founder of falafel specialist Zooba, was honored with the Estrella Damm N.A. Chefs’ Choice Award. Elrefaey’s passion for unearthing Egypt’s culinary history and using it to bring back ancient recipes has earned him a range of accolades, culminating in this prestigious award.
The Sustainable Restaurant Award was presented to OCD Restaurant (No.14).
Recognizing excellence in restaurant service and dining experiences, the Art of Hospitality Award was presented to Beirut’s Em Sherif (No.20). Artisan pastry chef Karim Bourgi, the founder of Boutique De Gourmandises, took home the MENA’S Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Valrhona.
Other pre-announced award winners who accepted their trophies on stage included Salam Dakkak, chef-owner of Bait Maryam in Dubai, as the winner of the Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef Award, sponsored by Nespresso Professional; Anissa Helou, acclaimed food author and chef, as the winner of the Foodics Icon Award for her relentless efforts in documenting historical culinary traditions; and vegetableforward kitchen Opa, which picked up the One To Watch Award, presented to its founder and head chef, Shirel Berger.