Meet the Co-Owners of Indochine Dubai

Varun Khemaney and Khalil Dahmash; Co-Owners of VKD Hospitality Group the Group responsible for bringing French-Vietnamese restaurant Indochine to Dubai give an insight on what to expect from DIFC’s latest eatery.

Varun Khemaney and Khalil Dahmash

What are you expecting to achieve with Indochine now it is here in Dubai?

Just as Indochine has left its mark in New York for over 35 years, we hope to create our own history here in Dubai. Our aim is to build a restaurant that is a timeless classic, serving an enticing array of dishes inspired by French and Vietnamese cuisines.

Why did you want to bring the restaurant in particular to the region?

We fell in love with the brand, its history, and its aesthetic. Also, French Vietnamese cuisine hasn’t really been introduced properly in Dubai before, we figured that this would be the perfect opportunity to fill this niche.

You’ve had huge success with Miss Lily’s – what’s the secret?

Hard work, being present and keeping our finger on the pulse.

What do you look for when scouting our potential brands to bring to the region?

We don’t have a set method or criteria when looking for brands – we try and understand what is missing in the market and then figure out how to fill that niche.

Whenever we travel abroad, we are constantly trying new places and getting inspired.

What is the biggest challenge you face?

Staffing – finding the right people and building an eclectic group of individuals who can share and execute our vision is extremely difficult. Even when identifying top tier talent, it is often hard to bring them out to the UAE as they are already doing great things in other established cosmopolitan cities around the world.

How do you decide on the locations for the venues?

We look for areas that have a high amount of footfall and are easily accessible. It’s also good to have other neighbouring restaurants around you as it creates synergy and becomes a destination for all types of people. This is one of the main reasons why we chose to be in the DIFC.

What are your thoughts on the restaurant industry in Dubai and how it has evolved?

Both of us have been brought up in Dubai and it is remarkable to see how much the F&B scene has evolved over the last 20 years. Many of the best brands from across the world have opened up their doors here – people are really spoilt for choice. It’s also nice to see people taking initiative and creating homegrown concepts over the last several years and have become super successful. Dubai is definitely the strongest F&B hub in the Middle East.

With so much competition how do you stand out?

We always try to make sure that we stand out by providing an amazing atmosphere, great food and drinks, personable staff and good vibes. We try and provide the guest with an overall unique experience that isn’t found elsewhere in the city.

What is the secret to longevity in the restaurant business?

Stick to your core competencies, understanding your clientele and making sure that you always deliver a consistent product and experience.

Is there anything else coming in the pipeline that you can share with us?

We have several really cool ideas and concepts that we are planning to execute in the near future – we cannot disclose more information at the moment. You will just have to wait and see!

What is your favourite cuisine?

VK – Chinese and Italian

KD – Japanese and Italian