Birch.

Dare I say...a hidden gem?

A name already familiar to those who’ve dined in St. Petersburg, Birch has landed in Dubai with polish and a quietly confident culinary point of view. Nestled into an unassuming corner of DIFC of the (very well) dated Ritz-Carlton (and around the corner from Flor), this import brings with it thoughtful innovation and understated elegance. (And just to be clear, we’re not talking about locally developed Birch Bakery, which is equally fantastic in its own right.)

Upon arrival, the space is sleek, contemporary, yet intimate. The lounge is, for me, the only miss. The chairs are uncomfortable to sit in (and get out of), and there is a wall that does a good job of blocking the exterior hallway, but it also features random words on it. I would rather see some local artwork (or artwork inspired by the food, chef, etc.) Fortunately, the remainder of the restaurant features a nice layout, including tableside seats in the kitchen and a communal table, which is a throwback to the tiny venue where …