BB Social Dining

Nine years ago, BB Social Dining burst onto the scene like a culinary flash mob led by a German chef and a Greek-Australian partner – Alexander Stumpf and Spero Spanagakis – serving up a riotous Asian-Mediterranean mash-up before anyone could spell ‘fusion’ without rolling their eyes. In its heyday, BB was ahead of the curve. Now, its menu reads like a roll call at Dubai’s culinary talent show: lobster, wagyu, salmon, truffles, all jostling for attention like a reality TV show cast. The ‘bites’ include imaginative creations such as crispy sprouts with soy and chilli, cauliflower popcorn drenched in a white truffle sauce and beef tartare with crispy lotus root. The crispy tuna rice with spicy tuna tartare and caviar is excellent. The star attraction remains the fluffy steamed bao with fillings, including slow-cooked short rib, fried chicken and the famed softshell crab. The grilled meats in the BBQ section are also noteworthy; while simple, they are polished by distinctive sauces, such as the sea bass with jalapeño and pineapple relish. Fusion here isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a house style – often brilliant, occasionally bonkers, but always a good time. The place still fizzes with energy and the sort of fun that makes you want to order another round. But after nearly a decade, BB Social Dining finds itself in a city where new restaurants sprout like billionaire offspring and where the bar is now set somewhere in the stratosphere. The fun, the flair and those signature baos remain – but in Dubai’s ever-accelerating race for culinary relevance, BB sometimes feels like the life of the party who’s just realised the music’s changed. Still, there’s a lot to love, especially if you’re in the mood for nostalgia or just good bao.

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