Middle Child Dubai

The middle child, (according to ChatGPT), usually creates their own identity, acts as a natural mediator, stays adaptable, reads people well, and is quietly overlooked.

Let’s see how Middle Child in Alserkal stacks up.

Independent:-
Not just a restaurant, but also a well-stocked bookstore, showcasing dozens of culinary titles - from McNally’s I Regret Almost Everything to Lopez’s The Food Lab.

Add to that an eclectic range of gourmet pantry items with quirky handwritten labels and suggested recipes, and you start to see the shape of its personality.

The menu is actually quite simple, almost café fare - a contrast to the abundance of culinary inspiration living on the bookshelves.

A club sandwich, cheesecake, roasted potato salad, Labneh Yuzukosho - comfort food that did the job - not trying to impress, just doing its thing. Totes independent.

Diplomatic:-
Middle Child was full of the most eclectic mix of diners - from the conservative to the flamboyant, a full spectrum of religions, cultures, professions, and beliefs - as if we were all about to star in a Benetton advert.

Only a true middle child could smooth tensions, connect opposites and read people this well.

Empathetic:
The soundtrack alone told you Middle Child understood people - a blend of lo-fi groove, soul, and cosmic cool that dialed itself in perfectly to the room’s collective mood.

The Serb and I were showing our age; one of us (can’t remember who, but it wasn’t me) commented on how loud it was. Then, in a brief pause between tracks, we discovered they also own the world’s loudest blender.

Adaptable:
7 p.m. and Middle Child was full. Maybe people waiting for the traffic to die down, but Middle Child’s ability to respond with the day is undeniable.

Coffee stop, counter lunch, makeshift office, dinner with friends, retail browsing, quiet read, quick takeaway - Middle Child has found the sweet spot.

Overlooked:
If middle children grow up fearing they’ll be overlooked, Middle Child at AlSerkal can rest easy. A cool, casual little spot, with bags of personality and charisma - no one’s overlooking this one. Less

Lunch at @middlechildmiddlechild @alserkalavenue 🇦🇪♥️
-
A lovely new spot in Dubai. Part eatery, part grocer and part book shop - this casual little shop is already a new favourite of mine. The menu is clean and un-fussy, with lots of light plates on the there from fresh dips, salads and crudo’s to steak, sandwiches and pasta. It’s far from the standard dishes you would expect though, everything is done with their own style and finesse. To start, the onion dip with ritz crackers was knockout. I hope they keep this one on as a permanent feature - creamy, sweet and balanced. The sea bass crudo was clean and sharp - a tasty dish which I would love even more if it had some heat. The steak tartare was tasty too - well seasoned, cubed tenderloin with all the usual accompaniments. The grilled strip loin with jammy onions was my favourite main - a nice idea that I’ll definitely be iterating at home. Loved the deep onion sauce and the blushing pink strip. Pappardelle bolognese was rich and well prepared too albeit a little soft on the pasta - love that they sell the bolognese sauce in the shop though, nice touch. Finished off with the banoffee pie and soft serve - both excellent. These guys are off to a great start! #notoriousfoodie 🙅🏽‍♂️
-
-
-
-
-
#dubai #mydubai #visitdubai #dubailife #dubai🇦🇪 #uae #dubaifood Less