Frequented by celebrities like Kanye West, Brad Pitt, Taylor Swift and more, Sarabeth's is one of the most popular spots for brunch in New York City, having appeared on the sets of Gossip Girl and the film It's Complicated starring Meryl Streep.
Today (March 26), Sarabeth's opened its first restaurant in the Middle East, at Dubai's City Walk district. Pastry chef and Sarabeth's founder, Sarabeth Levine, flew to Dubai for the occasion.
Despite being a name loved by New York’s famous faces, Levine is remarkably grounded. “I don’t think about it. I think every customer is a celebrity to me,” she says.
Levine started out by making a family recipe — homemade apricot-orange marmalade - and providing them to other cafes, before launching her own small restaurant, which had just three tables.
“It wasn’t planned, one thing led to another,” she says. “You couldn’t have just a jam shop, you needed something to put the jam on. The next thing you know, people wanted eggs, and that’s how it all started.”
Today, there are 20 Sarabeth’s locations worldwide, including multiple restaurants in New York and Japan.
When Sarabeth’s started offering brunch to New Yorkers in 1981, it was one of the first restaurants to do so.
“I pretty much began the whole brunch scene in New York City,” she admits proudly.
Many of the New York restaurant’s signature dishes are on the Dubai menu, including the almond-crusted fluffy french toast and eggs benedict. But while the restaurant may have become famous for its brunch, it’s certainly not a brunch-only venue — there are separate menus for lunch and dinner too.
Sarabeth’s is located in City Walk phase 2, at the Al Safa and Al Wasl road intersection.
hlodi@thenational.ae
