The Great List, a New Guide To the Best Restaurants In Dubai

by Alexandra Mansilla

The Great List, a New Guide To the Best Restaurants In Dubai

1 May 2024

The story of the Great List, a premier restaurant guide, began back in October 2022. Founded by Alexandr Sysoev, a prominent figure in Russia's restaurant scene, it initially focused on five cities in Russia. The selection process is super meticulous: a team of experts personally visits each restaurant to determine its suitability for inclusion in the list.

This year, the Great List reached Dubai, aiming to compete with esteemed guides like the Michelin Guide. We caught up with Alexandr Sysoev to gain insights into the guide's origins and plans.

— Sasha, you are well-known in Russia for your vast number of restaurant-related projects. The Great List is also recognised in Russia, and its ratings are highly sought after. How did you enter the new market? And how were you accepted?

— Since we were keen on expanding internationally, we began exploring other options and realised that the Middle East presented an excellent opportunity.

As one of the emerging global capitals, Dubai has made significant strides in brand recognition, tourism, and more over the past 3–4 years, making it a favourable entry point for us. As many say, "If you're in Dubai, you'll be everywhere else in the world.”

So, we began creating the guide. While in the Moscow guide, everything is determined by 100 verified experts, and I don't participate in the selection process; here, given that the market is new, I was heavily involved and personally visited the establishments to ensure there were no mistakes.

As the team came together, we started brainstorming the concept. We introduced several new categories to the guide, which are very popular here but not yet as developed in Russia. For instance, street food is hugely popular here. The same is true for coffee shops — they are a big part of leisure time.

Our objective was straightforward: to launch the project and gauge how competitive a product from Russia would be on the international stage. Could we create projects that would become as globally recognised as Michelin and others?

We rolled out The Great List Dubai in January, Currently, it is available in English and Russian. Throughout the development process, we realised that the concept would evolve. Honestly, we produce an exceptional product. It is gaining popularity, even among locals, thanks in large part to our partnership with the local super-app Tawasal.

Telegram: @sysoevfmdubai; Instagram: @sysoevfm

— In what other languages will the guide be available?

— By the end of summer, we plan to create versions in Arabic and Chinese.

— You mentioned street food and coffee shops as notable aspects of Dubai's culture. What other distinct features have you observed in the restaurant scene while exploring this and visiting various eateries?

— Dubai boasts one of the world's most robust restaurant industries for a straightforward reason: it is home to either powerhouse franchises or renowned chefs opening their own establishments. Plus, there is immediate access to any ingredients needed.

— I am curious about the process. Once you list restaurants in the Great List, what happens next? Do the restaurants receive anything for being included?

— Sure, we send them big, dark grey medals with our logo. It is cool to see them popping up on display shelves!

Homer Lobster; Ninive; Electric Pawn Shop. Source: greatlist.ae

— What criteria do you use to evaluate restaurants?

— We have got four key criteria: top-notch food and ingredients, stellar design, impeccable service, and the concept's value.

— What cities are on the horizon for the Great List's next launch?

— We have big plans for Abu Dhabi, Doha, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

— Are there any hidden gems you have stumbled upon in Dubai recently, places you never knew existed?

— You know, there is actually a plethora of spots here that blend different vibes. Take, for instance, this paddle club that also serves as a café. Or that shop selling everything from accessories to clothes, and, yeah, it is also a café. Then there is an art gallery with a cozy café corner. And they are all top-notch.

What is fascinating is that a lot of these places are run by expats who felt a pang of nostalgia for what they had back home. So they decided to bring a slice of home here, recreating the ambience they missed. Just recently, I stumbled upon this spot called Villa Margot. Stepped inside — and it felt like a slice of the south of France right in Dubai. It turned out that the owners hail from near Marseille and longed for that French touch in Dubai. So they created this café-shop, mirroring the vibe they cherished back home. Dubai is dotted with mini outposts dedicated to entire countries.

Instagram: @villamargot.dubai

— My next question is more practical. You are the person who knows everything about restaurants, especially the best ones. How do you typically find places when you are hungry? Do you use Google Maps?

— In my case, it is all about my network — I can always rely on someone to suggest a spot. Plus, I know a bunch of chefs — I just head their way!

But generally, I suggest following this logic: if you see a crowd at a restaurant, that is where you want to be. Also, if you have enjoyed a particular restaurant, don't hesitate to ask the manager about similar spots — they always know what to recommend.

— Now, imagine yourself in a city where you don't know any chefs, and none of your friends have been there. How would you go about searching?

— You can always ask the hotel concierge if there are no guides or ratings. Another clever trick: if you find a nice place, always ask the restaurant manager where else they would recommend going. They usually recommend places with a similar level of food and atmosphere.

— Now imagine this. You have faced with a choice: go to a very expensive restaurant where there is not a soul, or to some street cafe that is not the cleanest but has a huge line at the entrance?

— Honestly, I think you can go to both!

— Do you like McDonald's?

— I really do. I think they have the best burgers. I also love pizza with a thick crust from Pizza Hut. My work partner and I have a tradition — we go to Pizza Hut every week and order a pizza with pepperoni and double cheese on a thick crust.

by Alexandra Mansilla