Dubai: A landmark Indian restaurant in Bur Dubai, among Dubai’s oldest eating houses, is relocating to New Dubai.
As the 37-year-old Kwality Restaurant prepares to re-launch at the Al Barsha Mall, the shift has not been without its share of nostalgia. “It was a heart-breaking decision to move from Bur Dubai but it had to be done,” restaurant owner Sumeera Bahl told XPRESS from London.
Established by Sumeera’s businessman father-in-law Vijay Bahl in 1978, Kwality restaurant on Khalid Bin Waleed Street was long patronised by Indians and Arabs alike for its “authentic” flavours, fostering a strong community spirit and dining tradition. Over the weekends, regulars would endure long waits to occupy the restaurant’s limited 85 seats to relish its famous malai fish, seekh kebabs, saagwala koftas and other delicacies. A meal for two would cost around Dh100.
Many reasons
“Nothing on the menu will change at the new location,” assured Sumeera. “All our 10 chefs, including those who have been with us for 37 years in Bur Dubai, will now be moving to Al Barsha.”
According to her, the shift was necessitated by the vagaries of time. “There were many reasons why we just had to relocate. For one, the building we were in was getting too old – we even suffered a ceiling collapse in the kitchen in September last year. The authorities wanted us to vacate. Secondly, it was a huge challenge for customers to find parking around the restaurant. Third, many of our old-timer clients have moved to Emirates Hills and other areas of New Dubai. They have grown up with Kwality food and wanted us to move closer to them.”
Sumeera said the restaurant’s new location at the food court in Al Barsha Mall would effectively do away with the seating and parking problem. “As Dubai expands, the new location is more central. We are very excited because our kitchen now is three times bigger. We will continue with the live cooking and barbecues. We also plan to do takeaways and home deliveries in a big way.”
She said the restaurant will undertake home deliveries in Al Barsha, Greens, Emirates Hills, Meadows, Lakes, Springs, Jumeirah Lake Towers and other areas of New Dubai. Customers up north can also visit Kwality outlets at Lamcy Plaza and the Arabian Center, she added,
