Garum – Proudly, UAE’s first and only restaurant to serve and reintroduce a forgotten ancient flavour back into our modern cuisine
In a bold and flavourful move that redefines culinary storytelling in the region, Garum, a new homegrown Dubai restaurant brand, establishes itself as the first and only restaurant in the Middle East to centre its menu around Garum, also called Mahyawah or Meshawa, the legendary fermented fish born from the amalgamation of simple ingredients of dried fish, salt water and spices.
A staple of Roman, Greek and Persian cuisine dating back over 2,500 years, Garum was once traded across empires and served at the tables of emperors and kings. Long absent from modern kitchens, the namesake brand is now reviving this once-dominant, umami-rich condiment, giving diners the rare chance to experience the distinct and striking flavours that once defined the Mediterranean world. Prepared using a traditional fermentation process, Garum offers extraordinary culinary depth — rich in umami, yet balanced and subtle. It predates both soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and its revival aligns with a global movement toward rediscovering time-honoured culinary techniques and forgotten ingredients.
While versions of the sauce have been quietly made in households across the region for generations — often in small batches with inconsistent methods, Garum represents the first structured, research-driven, quality- controlled recipe through their use of the Persian fermentation processing method. The restaurant is the vision of a local family passionate about food innovation and sustainability. After years of experimentation, ingredient sourcing, and meticulous testing, they have reimagined this royal sauce for today’s sophisticated palate. The respective patrons have an active long- term goal to introduce Garum line of products not only to the local market but eventually reach neighbouring regions and then hopefully go global.
Their intention basically is to revive the once famous condiment back to the global culinary food theatre.“We see Garum not just as an ingredient, but as a conversation — a bridge between cultures, centuries, and the evolution of taste. We’re proud to be the only restaurant in the region offering a full menu that celebrates Garum in every course”, said Chef Hicham, who leads this culinary revival alongside the founding family.
The restaurant uses the best quality fresh produce on their menu, they also source most of their organic fruits and vegetables from their own farms. Leaving nothing to waste,they have implemented a strong waste handling management system on their supply chain, that is a part of their ecosystem, which drives the Farm to Fork process. From breakfast and lunch to dinner and dessert, every dish at Garum is designed to highlight the unique depth of flavour that ‘garum’ brings.
Garum also called – Mahyawah/Meshawa boasts a range of health benefits. Being naturally rich in amino acids, enzymes, and minerals, it enhances flavour without the need for added salt or fat. Its fermentation process supports gut health, making it a powerful, ancient precursor to today’s probiotics.
Garum Coffee & Bakery
Garum offers a thoughtfully curated selection of coffees, crafted to meet the demanding tastes of its predominantly Emirati customer base, true coffee lovers who know their brew. They serve coffee from Colombia, Ethiopia, Yemen, and their own signature creation: the Garum Blend
All of their bakery selection is freshly made in-house at their central kitchen, from buttery brioches, flaky croissants, and delicate Danish pastries to simit bread and bagels, every item is made using the finest ingredients. Garum also delights with a well-balanced dessert menu, offering delicious creations made with fresh ingredients that are sourced directly from their own gardens.
Hence, whether spread on warm bread or served beside a meal, Mahyawah whispers of old journeys, of survival and shared traditions; a dish of two worlds, bound by the sea. It carries the taste of both Arabia,Persia and the rest of the world. As Garum raises a new generation of flavour enthusiasts, it extends a warm invitation to food lovers: Come taste what food was like thousands of years ago — reengineered for today, and pridefully served in Dubai.