Herman Torres
THE NEW F&B DIRECTOR AT TOPGOLF DUBAI
You’re from Topgolf Vegas – that’s cool! How does Dubai’s compare?
When we opened in Vegas, no one had seen anything like it, so it had this amazing vibe. For me, Topgolf Dubai is going to set a new benchmark for the Middle East, just like Topgolf Vegas did for the States. We’re going to create this amazing place for the region, so that when anyone thinks about opening another Topgolf, they’ll say “wow we need to be like Topgolf Dubai.”
Sports snacks are all burgers and buffalo wings. Does the same apply to Topgolf?
Yes, definitely. There was this massive process with our menu. We have a mission to deliver one of the best burgers in Dubai and we’ll definitely succeed. And our head chef is quite special. I can’t wait for everybody to meet him. He’s prepared a menu that I can’t wait for everyone to taste.
How many restaurants and bars are there at Topgolf Dubai?
We have three different restaurants under the one roof. There’s the Bunker Café next to our mini golf area. Then there’s
The Yard. This is where everyone is going to go to watch sports and listen to live music. And then we have The Loft on the top floor, which is your afterparty spot.
Will the menu be similar to the one in Vegas, or are you changing it up?
We have pasta. No other Topgolf on the planet is serving pasta, which is a big deal for us. Then there’s our amazing Arabic mixed grill. I’ve already been told by many people that Topgolf Dubai’s menu will be the most impressive that Topgolf has ever seen, period. Have a look at the menu for yourself here, topgolfdubai.ae/menu.
Will everything be a calorie bomb?
No, no, no. But we will have hearty items. In the States that’s one of the things that we’re known for: ‘make it fast, make it quick, put on my plate so I can gain more weight.’ But in Dubai, we have a lot of fresh items, too. Our chef has created some great salads, some very healthy choices and veggie dishes.
Tell us about some of your favourite dishes...
Being a manly man, my favourite dish is the meat and mac platter.
It’s Korean spare ribs accompanied by some chicken and spicy macaroni cheese served with a side of coleslaw. It doesn’t get more American than that.
What about drinks? We’ve seen a glass golf bag that looks fun…
Oh, the Golf Bag is so fun, and it really creates a party on your table. There are illuminated lights that switch on underneath and it’s such a social drink. We have a shareable one, too, that’s 32oz. When you order the big one, you can take it home. It’s like your own little Topgolf Dubai memorabilia.