In pictures: Tom & Serg - a new trend in cafe culture

Arnel and Lopez wanted to create a casual cafe with great coffee, great food and great atmosphere, and opened Tom & Serg in a warehouse in Al Quoz. Pawan Singh / The National

The two-level cafe is gritty and industrial, but still inviting and warm. It’s the kind of cool that appears ­effortless. Pawan Singh / The National

The coffee is organic and well-trained baristas serve it in a variety of ways. Pawan Singh / The National

Arnel, who is trained as a fine-dining chef, creates all of the cafe’s dishes. Pawan Singh / The National

“We wanted to make sure that we had the right balance between good coffee, good food, nutritious food, gourmet food and affordable food,” says Arnel. Pawan Singh / The National

Most meals are priced between Dh35 and Dh60. Pawan Singh / The National

Tom & Serg is in Al Quoz off Sheikh Zayed Road. Open daily from 8am to 4pm and until 5pm on weekends. Call 056 474 6812. Pawan Singh / The National

Tom Arnel and Sergio Lopez met while working at Jones the Grocer in Abu Dhabi. Arnel was the executive chef, Lopez was an operations manager and they both wanted to venture off on their own. Pawan Singh / The National

Pictures of Tom Arnel and Sergio Lopez’s Tom & Serg cafe. A new trend in Dubai’s coffee and cafe culture.