There is a reason there is such a buzz around Tresind Studio in foodie circles. Its multicourse degustation menu – a series of small courses that together create a culinary journey – is an adventure everyone wants to embark on. It’s the closest to a Michelin-style fine dining experience, complete with silver service and a battalion of waiters, that Dubai has to offer, but at a very accessible Dhs250 per person price point.
As you enter the Voco Hotel, where the restaurant is based, a security guard discretely takes your temperature. Before entering the ‘studio’ via a secret door in the main Tresind restaurant, you are greeted by a receptionist – wearing not just a mask but also a face shield – with a big bottle of hand sanitiser placed to help yourself.
Tresind’s themes change frequently and the current one, Chapter 4 in its story — is centred around the Food Truck concept, with both vegetarians and meat-eaters catered for. Regulars will notice a distinct change in both the ambiance and décor as the walls have been reworked with bright graffiti with old school hip hop providing the tunes. An open kitchen ensures you always have Chef Himanshu Saini in sight as he dispatches perfect plate after plate from the pass.
Luckily for this team, the space didn’t have to be reworked at all for the pandemic; tables were always really well spaced out, with a maximum of twenty patrons at any seating. There’s also only one service a night so no hustle and bustle of guests coming and going.
The immersive foodie experience gets going as expert service staff – all wearing gloves, masks and shields – guide you through each of the twelve expertly curated courses.
Part of the delight of such a meal is seeing it unfold. Giving away too many details will be churlish as the great unveiling is integral to the adventure. You may associate food trucks with casual, quick, cheap and tasty food – in this case the Chef and his team have elevated it to such an extent that only the final two adjectives still firmly apply.
The dishes may be familiar but they have been completely reimagined. From the moment you try the crisp shiso leaf topped ‘pani puri’ you’ll realise you’re in for a real treat. Purists will appreciate the chicken tikka – again, not served as you know it – while our top picks were the laksa-like comforting ramen and a novel take on Doritos.
Those with a sweet tooth will not be disappointed as there are four treats – one interspersed in the middle of the menu with the banana bread craze that swept through households during the epidemic as hilarious inspiration.
If you aren’t a fan of fine dining stuffiness then this particular chapter – with its nod to popular culture, Instagrammable food trucks and dishes and upbeat soundtrack will be perfect for you. One thing that doesn’t change is the excellence of the food and their dedication to ensuring you feel far away from the worries of the outside world. This might be the only chapter of 2020 that we would be more than happy to return to!
Find Tresind Studio at the Voco Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE CALL NOW or BOOK HERE
Ramen
Pani Puri
Chilli Chip
