When it comes to quality dining, there’s no shortage of venues in our cities. But it’s getting harder to find one where every guest is made to feel like a dear friend. Such was the case at Special Ostadi in Bur Dubai under the ownership of Mohammed Ansari, who died last week at the age of 83.
Special Ostadi was – and is – one of a kind, yet representative of the many establishments that one can still find offering a warm welcome from a genial owner. They feature menus with home-made specialities, and a unique decor that tells a story rather than a sterile look that could place you anywhere in the world.
It is becoming harder for such places to survive in an age of boilerplate fast-food joints and efficient yet impersonal service. It is easier now to take up a franchise than to create something distinctive that adds colour and texture to a community. We should embrace those that remain before they become a relic of history.
