Asian-fusion restaurant BB Social Dining is opening in Abu Dhabi imminently.
The popular restaurant, which received one toque from Gault&Millau in 2022, opened in Dubai’s DIFC in 2017, before becoming one of the original outlets to open in Time Out Market Dubai, in Souk Al Bahar, in April 2021.
Now, it’s opening in the Rosewood hotel on Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island.
BB Social Dining comes from chef Alexander Stumpf and restaurateur Spero Panagakis, who are excited about opening in Abu Dhabi – and promise that regulars will have the BB experience they know and love.
“We are one brand at BB and when you visit us in Abu Dhabi you will immediately feel as at home as you do in Dubai,” they tell G&M. “Plus we always ensure our dishes are consistent in taste and presentation.
And while it will feel familiar, Abu Dhabi diners can expect some new dishes, too.
“For our Abu Dhabi restaurant we’ve shaken up the menu a bit,” says Stumpf. “Considering we are six years old this year, it’s time. It’s a milestone opening in the capital and we want to reflect that.
“We’ve shortened the bites and BBQ sections of the menu and introduced a BB Signature section – where you’ll find our classic and best-known dishes such as the wagyu katsu sando, as well as the Habibti soft-shell crab bao, which have become exceedingly popular thanks to social media.
“We’ve also introduced new sections such as BB dim sum, sushi and BB rolls. Our kitchen and cuisine is ever-evolving and we have such freedom with our modern-Eastern approach that there’s something for everyone to dive into on this menu.”
With an increasing number of restaurants opening in the UAE capital and an exciting dining scene in Abu Dhabi, the pair believe now is the ideal time to open at Rosewood.
“Since the pandemic we’ve been fortunate to have grown and expanded through the UAE – and one expansion was into Huna in Yas Mall. We’re blessed with having an amazing base of returning customers, many of whom live in the capital and were asking us to open there. We love to give our customers what they want, so here we are,” they say.
“We can’t wait to meet customers, old and new, and to learn more about the exciting and vibrant city of Abu Dhabi. We are looking forward to feeding the people of the capital and for them to learn about BB Social Dining and our ethics.
“We believe firmly in home-grown concepts. At the end of the day, we are expats in this wonderful country and to be able to give back is of utmost importance. We take this very seriously by ensuring we also use vegetables and products from UAE local farms – keep it full circle.”
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, it is promised to be soon, and the team are “ecstatic” to be opening at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.
BB Social Dining, Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, thisisbb.com.