The Experience by Reif Othman, acclaimed Singaporean chef-owner Reif’s celebrated ‘omakase’ tasting menu, returns to Reif Japanese Kushiyaki in Dar Wasl Mall from next month (April) in a newly renovated restaurant. Plus, a special six-course set menu will be rolled out for dine-in and delivery over the holy month of Ramadan.
Omakase is the Japanese tradition of letting the chef choose and cook your order. The Experience is chef Reif’s innovation playground, where he personally cooks a refined twist on his unconventional Japanese food for up to four guests at his kitchen counter.
Each month boasts a different culinary theme. For the first launch month of April, the tasting menu is themed around Japan’s cherry blossom season. In May, the culinary theme is inspired by the Japanese holiday tradition of Golden Week. With World Sushi Day falling on the June 18, the month of June pays homage to Reif’s unconventional twist on all things sushi. Further new themes will be revealed on social media.
“I’m constantly developing new dishes, almost daily, so by bringing The Experience back, I can ensure that Dubai foodies indulge in a different, more refined take on my unconventional Japanese food. Once each culinary theme concludes, we will look to add some of these dishes to our specials menu,” says Reif Othman, chef-owner of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki.
Two tasting menus are available – eight dishes for AED 350, and 12 dishes for AED 550 (food only), including a wooden chopstick gift set. These can be booked seven days a week for lunch or dinner over a three-hour period, for a minimum of two people and a maximum of four. Reservations are required five working days in advance to ensure Reif’s availability and the sourcing of exclusive produce.
Meanwhile, a new Ramadan six-course set menu, available for both dine-in and delivery through Deliveroo is priced at AED 220, easily feeding two people. Customers can expect Reif’s trademark unconventional twist with a miso lentil soup and dates to break the fast, followed by kibbeh nayyeh with miso hummus and flatbread, ‘RFC’ Reif Fried Chicken, and grilled seabass with rice. The meal ends on a sweet note with two desserts – matcha umm ali and yuzu mouhalabiya. Reif Japanese Kushiyaki will operate as normal over Ramadan including daytime dine-in.
The newly renovated restaurant designed by interior decorator Carolina Rey de Castro, boasts both terrace and indoor seating in line with the latest health and safety municipality directives, including state-of-the-art air filtering systems and sanitisation, safe spacing and Perspex dividers.