Multi-award-winning chef Reif Othman opens his first full service, licensed restaurant in the UAE today, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, whilst the chef’s table, TERO follows on 12th May. Both entirely self-funded concepts are located in the new district of Dubai Hills Business Park.
The 118-cover, homegrown Reif Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant boasts a more elaborate menu than the original Dar Wasl premises, whilst retaining Reif’s unconventional cooking style, as well as a compact wine, spirits, beer and cocktail list. Signature dishes include escargot takoyaki, otoro with satsuma Wagyu steamed bun, and black cod ramen, with affordable pricing ranging from AED78 to AED220.
The décor by a different interior designer to Dar Wasl, Dubai-based Govind Shepley, mixes regular, banquette booth and high-table seating in the L-shaped dining room, with a bar-lounge and a 12-seater private dining pod. An open-plan kitchen takes on a new meaning with two large windows allowing diners to watch chefs cooking both on the robata, and weaving their culinary magic in the pastry section. In keeping with Reif’s unconventional cooking, playful features like matcha whisk lights elevate the simple, understated design. Reif Japanese Kushiyaki is open daily for lunch and dinner, with reservations encouraged.
Meanwhile, the chef’s table concept, TERO (The Experience by Reif Othman), which seats 12 guests, opens for bookings today, with the first reservation slot on 12th May. An immersive dining experience will see guests stepping through the back aka heart-of-house, moving into the lounge for aperitif and bites, followed by a front-row seat at the chef’s cooking station. Reif’s personal fascination with Japanese pop culture shines through with elements like sneakers, skateboards, a Pac-Man machine and a Bearbrick art piece, adding eclectic touches to the harmonious, minimalist design.
TERO’s monthly-changing, surprise tasting menu experience can be booked for a group gathering, or individual covers from Wednesday to Saturday, for dinner only. Two seating’s are available, 6pm and 9.30pm, with eight dishes priced at AED888, and 12 dishes at AED1,212. Reservations are mandatory via email on reservations@terodubai.com with full advance credit card payment.
A third licensed concept, a new cuisine category for Reif Othman, Hoe Lee Kow, showcasing unconventional Korean BBQ, will open in the same district in June.
“The Dubai Hills complex is a new, up-and-coming community – a mere 15 minute drive from the city’s main residential and business districts of DIFC, Downtown, Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. This destination allows us to open three separate concepts, each with its own identity. Like with Dar Wasl, our strategy is to pick premises that come with their own following, enabling us to constantly reach out to a new customer base, whilst also catering to our existing clientele,” said Reif Othman, chef and co-owner, Hotaru Holdings.
Chef Reif Othman is a Dubai-based chef and restaurateur from Singapore whose clever twists on Japanese and broader Far-Eastern cuisine have garnered him and his restaurants many local and international accolades including a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, the Chefs’ Choice Award in the inaugural MENA 50 Best Restaurants line-up, a no 11 restaurant ranking in the MENA 50 Best Restaurants 2023, and a Gault & Millau UAE 2023 toque. He is the only chef to make the Arabian Business Top 100 Power List 2023. His 15-year dedication to the UAE’s F&B industry with his unconventional approach and acute business acumen thanks to his early experience as a stockbroker, has raised the profile of the Japanese cuisine category here.
