ILA restaurant and café, located at Al Seef in Dubai, is a contemporary-chic space serving Middle Eastern cuisine. Here, Executive Director RB Thakur discusses the restaurant’s approach.
Tell us more about how ILA has started out.
ILA opened in 2017, as a stop for fresh international food, with vegan dining options by Just Vegan. At the restaurant, guests can enjoy breakfast (the shakshuka is fabulous) or soups, salads and grills for lunch or dinner. There’s also an array of pizzas, burgers, pasta and sandwiches on the menu. Plus, smoothies, coffee and kunafa.
What are some of the most unique points of the venue?
Our extensive menu features authentic fare, prepared the traditional way. Every dish is crafted with love and generosity, choosing only the freshest ingredients, and arrives at your table with immaculate presentation.
Our magical location provides the perfect backdrop of the Creek setting, where our guests are invited to step into the doorway of a culinary paradise, where nothing but food, love, passion, and creativity matter.
With the ability to host small parties and big events in our beautiful private spaces, ILA is your prime dining destination.
How has ILA evolved?
We have always looked towards giving the best dining and relaxing environment in our premises and evolved towards adding better cuisines, the finest, most creative presentation and new dishes, including plant-based options.
We have changed the outlook both on the inside and outside for a better experience and for customers to enjoy a new look.
What Covid-19 precautions are you following?
As directed by the authorities and supervised by our staff, from the health and safety side, we take every step to follow Covid-19 guidelines and adhere to the new measures for everyone’s safety.
How do you plan on developing the menu further?
Our R&D team always conducts an assessment, a customer survey, and we receive the chefs’ input on new trends; we always look towards filling the gap in the market, in addition to adding and changing dishes with better ingredients, taste, presentation and pricing.
We’re working towards adding kosher dishes in future. We even added affordable 5-course dining at AED 29 and AED 39.
What would you like to add?
At ILA, we’re focused on one thing – completely transforming your dining experience.
