The Lighthouse restaurant and store to open new Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches

The Mall of the Emirates venue opened on Wednesday

A new branch of The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store has opened at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The new restaurant boasts minimalist interiors and photography by Egyptian artist Maha Maamoun. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The venue has a main dining area, espresso bar, lounge, store and atrium terrace. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The store stocks hand-picked gifting items from design-led brands across the world. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

This is one of three new restaurants from the brand to open in 2021, with two more to follow in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The Mall of the Emirates location is based in the Apple store atrium. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The Mall of the Emirates branch can seat 115 people. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

A lounge area offers more comfortable seating. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

A branch in Nakheel Mall, Palm Jumeirah and another at Yas Bay Waterfront will follow later in 2021. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The restaurant and store originally opened in 2017 in Dubai Design District. Courtesy The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store

The Lighthouse Restaurant and Concept Store has announced the opening of three new venues in the UAE, with the first opening at Mall of the Emirates on Wednesday.

The second new location will open in Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah, while a third will launch at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi, with both to open at some point in the fourth quarter of this year.

The homegrown dining and retail outlet first opened its doors in Dubai Design District in 2017 and was the brainchild of owner-operators Hashem Montasser and Hany Bassiouny.

Despite the circumstances, the d3 venue has done well since it reopened in August 2020 following restaurant closures amid the pandemic. It reported a 35 per cent year-on-year revenue increase in the first three months of 2021, triple the delivery revenue and more than double from its catering service.

The new Mall of the Emirates venue is based in the Apple store atrium and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It boasts minimalist interiors by local designer Tarik Al Zaharna of T.Zed Architects across the dining area, espresso bar, lounge and atrium terrace.

Contemporary-style photography by Egyptian award-winning visual artist and curator Maha Maamoun adorns the walls.

Meanwhile, the menu promises a "fresh interpretation of the Mediterranean-inspired soul food classics and pastries" the brand is known for.

There are new dishes exclusive to this location, such as a spelt and artichoke salad, grilled octopus with smokey hummus and short rib with Parmesan risotto.

Desserts include pear tatin, caramel thyme tart and a double chocolate cake.

Throughout Ramadan, the venue is also offering a five-course set menu for two people at iftar, for Dh160 per person.

As for the store, similar to the d3 outlet, it stocks a selection of hand-picked gifting items, with brands such as Los Angeles handmade jewellery shop M.Cohen and Boy Smells for scented candles, both of which are exclusively available in the UAE through The Lighthouse.