Dubai Festival City Mall is diversifying. Following the success of Shvili at both Nakheel Mall and Dubai Hills Mall, the Georgian restaurant is expanding to the Festival City area, opening its doors on 5 September. This bistro, for the uninitiated, served traditional Georgian dishes in a setting to a match — the likes of hanging plants, pastoral artworks, cosy seating nooks, and pomegranate ornaments set the scene for what feels like a home-cooked meal.
Culinary authenticity is a given, too, thanks to the skillful hands of head chef Lika Mardaleishvili, who hails from the Caucasus country. New to Georgian cuisine? Ask for the illustrated set of instructions that guides diners on how to eat khinkali – soupy, meat-stuffed dumplings that pack a punch – the local way. Most of the dishes at Shvili are prepared in an open kitchen, adding to the sense of homeliness that permeates across the space. The restaurant is a brainchild of Tigrus Holding, which was founded by Danish restaurateur Henrik Winther in 2005.
Now operating 63 restaurants globally, the hospitality firm is driven by principles of sustainability. In fact, it’s the first and only restaurant holding in Europe to fully compensate for its carbon footprint and, since 2018, has followed a path of conscious consumption and zero waste across all its outlets. This commitment extends to protecting endangered species, including wild cats in the UAE, as part of its broader initiative to sustain wildlife in its operating regions. But Shvili isn’t the only venture by Tigrus that will open its doors at Dubai Festival City Mall next month.
In a combined setting similar to the original outpost in Dubai Hills Mall, Osteria Mario will also open its doors. Rooted in combining traditional flavours with a modern twist, the menu of this Italian restaurant captures the essence of the Mediterranean through the likes of pizza, pasta, risotto and a range of antipasti like crispy shrimp and baked eggplant. We’re told that an eco-friendly children’s entertainment hub will round off the combined offering, making this one of the more family-friendly spots in Festival City come September.
DSCVR: Shvili and Osteria Mario. Dubai Festival City Mall, Crescent Road, Dubai Festival City, Dubai. @shvili_dxb @osteriamario_dxb
