PARIS: OMAR DHIAB

In the quiet streets near Place des Victoires, a culinary gem has been making waves. Omar Dhiab, the chef’s eponymous restaurant, has quickly become one of Paris’s most celebrated fine dining destinations. With a Michelin star and an impressive 4.9 out of 5 on Google Maps, based on nearly 1300 reviews, it is both critically acclaimed and deeply loved by diners.

Omar Dhiab’s story is one of discipline, heritage, and a passion for honest cuisine. His path led him through the most prestigious kitchens in Paris — from Pavillon Ledoyen*** under Christian Le Squer, to Lasserre**, L’Abeille**, and later Loiseau Rive Gauche, where he earned his first Michelin star in 2020.

In 2022, he opened his own restaurant: a personal project that blends precision with warmth, memory with modernity. The setting, designed by Hauvette & Madani, is sleek yet welcoming — a place where wood, marble, and solar tones create both intimacy and refinement.

What makes Omar’s cooking unique is its balance of creativity and familiarity. He often begins with vegetables, which he sees as the freest medium for expression. Menus highlight both subtlety and depth:

• Marinated sea bream with lovage

• Jersey beef with smoked sardines

• Zucchini from flower to stem, with cuttlefish and pistachio pesto

• A signature welcome drink: karkadé, hibiscus tea from his Egyptian childhood

The menus evolve through 5, 7, or 9 courses, often paired with thoughtful wines. Each dish is layered with memories, yet designed for discovery.

Stepping inside Omar Dhiab is like entering a “house of cooks.” There is no stiffness here — the service is polished but friendly, and the atmosphere encourages conversation. Diners sit between oak furnishings and Pierre Frey banquettes in blue and yellow, while dishes arrive like small works of art, without losing their sense of generosity.

The praise is nearly universal. With a Google rating of 4.9, guests consistently describe the restaurant as creative, joyous, and memorable. One review reads:

“What a fun dining experience! … Omar is so creative! … Be sure to add wine pairing and your taste buds will set you on an adventure.”

Building on the success of his first address, Omar is opening Elbi in spring 2025, in the 10ᵉ arrondissement. The name, meaning “heart” in Arabic, reflects its philosophy: food that is generous, accessible, and soulful. The menu will center around five cooking methods — grilling, roasting, steaming, sous-vide, and frying — and will feature whole dishes such as lamb, hawawshi (Egyptian-style beef), and zucchini blossoms with harissa.

It will be a more relaxed concept, yet just as thoughtful — a reflection of Omar’s evolving vision of gastronomy.

Omar Dhiab has created more than a restaurant — he has created a culinary voice in Paris. Rooted in memory, refined by technique, and carried by passion, his cuisine resonates deeply with both critics and diners. With his current table thriving and Elbi on the horizon, Omar Dhiab is shaping the future of Parisian fine dining — one dish, one memory, and one heart at a time.