Restaurant Manāo

A scrupulously creative work inspired by the modern Thai cuisine of Chef Abhiraj Hatwani and his mentor and business partner, Mohammad Orfali (of Orfali Bros). For the thirty-year-old Hatwani, a native of Jeddah who spent his childhood in Dubai and began his culinary career in Europe and Thailand, this is also his first truly major debut—not just on a regional, but on an international scale—that is distinctly his own.

With a simple yet effective concept: at Manāo (from the Thai word for “lime”), an 11-course tasting menu is served. It ranges from Gillardeau oysters with nam jim sauce to Alaskan crab curry and rice dumplings with duck. In each dish, lime and a hint of spice play a role, and each is accompanied by a brief but vivid story, much like at Orfali.