Fusion’ food is interesting; however, it gets a bad rep – combining two different cuisines might create something new, but there’s no guarantee that it will create something tasty. That said, BB Social manages to tow the line between interesting and delicious, and also benefits from a stellar location in Dubai’s International Financial District.
The menu delivers the likes of cauliflower popcorn served with truffle sauce, a variety of posh Sandos (sandwiches, for the lay-people), and grilled meats that come under the BBQ section.
It’s clear that executive chef Alex Stumpf has a clear vision in mind with his food, and there’s no better example of that than the spicy beef tartare with crushed lotus roots and sesame (served alongside bao-bun chips and a neat-looking fried lotus root on top). It’s spicy, it’s sexy, and sets a great tone for the venue; this is an adventurous restaurant for adventurous eaters.
The bao buns are standout – and a signature (originally, ‘bao’ was part of the restaurant’s namesake) is the habiti, filled with an entire soft-shelled crab served “claws-up,” which looks as good as it tastes. So too does the black cod and braised short rib variations.
The BBQ section is good too, albeit less inventive. Yes, there’s little more you can do to food that is prepared over fire, and the interesting elements are left to the sauces and reductions; the sea bass is fine, for example, but is elevated by the jalapeno and pineapple relish.
Service is quick and easy, and despite there being a ground-floor entrance you’re better off heading to the third-floor main DIFC entry to be met by the restaurant’s smiley and attentive hostesses.
Those wanting a quiet dinner should ask for a table at the bottom of the restaurant (which spans three floors, including an outdoor terrace during the colder months), as the upstairs dining room shares space with what can be a rather rambunctious bar area.
BB Social then is more than a good restaurant; it’s an interesting one. The fact that it comes from a homegrown team with an interesting concept (that it delivers on, by the way) is great news for all involved. If more restaurants exercised the flair – and restraint of flavors and technique – that BB Social does in its menu, perhaps ‘fusion’ would be less of a dirty word in the culinary scene.
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