Shaking up JLT

LDC moves into One

Best known for its ice-cream tubs and dependable (if not exactly groundbreaking) cafe fare, London Dairy Cafe has been rebooted, with the launch of LDC Kitchen and Coffee in One JLT.

If it weren’t for the acronym, you might not even know this was London Dairy Mark II. The two-storey space works an industrial-chic vibe, with Instagrammable murals, cosy couches, cascading greenery, and plenty of space for co-working.

The kitchen team has had a serious upgrade, too. Chef Omar Basiony is at the pass, bringing his experience at Flamingo Room, Zuma and La Serre to the fore. London Dairy has always taken an ‘everything-but-the-kitchensink’ approach to menu design, and that breadth remains at LDC, albeit in a more finely honed format.

Basiony has cherry-picked dishes from across the world, taking you from relaxed cafe breakfasts to restaurant-quality dinners. On our visit, standouts include the stellar squid-ink linguine with garlic prawns (Dhs65); the sinfully good Vesuvio fried pizza (Dhs60); and a rich ramen with chicken, sweetcorn, and properly al dente noodles (Dhs65). Come hungry if you plan on tackling the aptly named Hot Mess burger (Dhs90). With two mac ‘n’ cheese patties standing in for the bun, a double serve of beef, and bacon jam, this is a dish with serious heft.

The scope of LDC’s menu is even more impressive when you learn that everything – right down to the croissants, sausages and cakes – is made in-house. There’s also quality coffee sourced direct from farmers, and a friendly team led by Florencia Beschtedt (ex-Zuma GM).

And this is just the start for LDC. Over the coming months, the new menu and decor will be rolled out at London Dairy Cafe venues across Dubai, bringing this dependable brand bang up to date.

aOne JLT, daily 7am to midnight (open until 1am on weekends). @ldckitchen