In a city with a competitive dining scene, Middle Child dares to be different.
Cook, host and former spreadsheet-wrangler Lynn Hazim's debut restaurant has something remarkable to offer Dubai's gourmets. Her debut restaurant, cookbook and grocery shop, Middle Child, opened in 2025 and is already making waves for its distinct style of home cooking, warm service and creative energy. Here are nine reasons why Middle Child should be on your radar.
It's more than a restaurant
At Middle Child, the experience doesn't finish at the end of the meal. The space is part cookbook shop, part gourmet deli, so diners can discover new recipe inspiration or take ingredients used in the menu home with them. "I wanted to create a space where people can come and get inspired to cook," says Hazim. "They eat something good, they say, 'I love these ingredients,' then they can go to the pantry and find them."
Middle Child was born from chef Lynn Hazim's love of hosting (Image: Chady Kal Studio Limbo)
You'll feel like you're at a friend's dinner party
Lynn chalks up her passion for cooking and hosting to being a middle child, which is also the main inspiration for the restaurant's name. "As a middle child, you get the least amount of attention," she says. Hazim created her own world hosting her friends and community: "When I left Beirut and my parents house, I loved hosting and having people over. It became my meditative space."
It's part of a community
Middle Child calls AlSerkal Avenue, a warehouse-lined centre of arts and culture in Dubai, home. "It's the kind of place where everything is locally owned, homegrown and owner-operated. It's one of the few places in Dubai where every store, gallery or restaurant you go into you'll see the owner there," says Hazim. "It's quite unique to the malls of Dubai."
Hazim gave up the tech world for something more hands-on (Image: Chady Kal Studio Limbo)
Passion runs in the family
Hazim grew up in a family that loves to eat and feed people – and it shows. "My mum's a great cook. All of her sisters – she has five sisters – they're all great cooks. My grandma was a great cook. Within the extended family, we just talk about food and cooking, we don't talk about anything else," says Hazim.
The menu is uncomplicated
You won't find experimental plates here – Middle Child's menu is full of tried and tested feel-good favourites from Hazim's home kitchen. "I wanted to create a small menu with dishes that are simple and honest and that I would crave on a daily basis," says Hazim. "I know that [the dishes] evoke this feeling as if someone cooked at home for them," she continues.
The warm, inviting decor helps create a space which fosters community (Image: Francesca Matta)
Hazim's bolognese is a must-try
If there's one dish Hazim knows will keep diners coming back for more, it's her bolognese. "I love cooking bolognese. I love watching it for hours on the stovetop, bubbling away. I love the smell of it when it comes on the table," she says.
It's a home from home
Wood shelving lined with cookbooks, warm-toned walls and vintage-feel crockery all create a cosy feel. "Being surrounded by books and groceries makes the whole space feel different," says Hazim. "Everyone who steps in here feels at home. The interior and food feel so cosy and homey."
Dishes - like this toasted rice soft serve - are designed for maximum comfort (Image: Chady Kal Studio Limbo)
You'll get a warm welcome
Hazim isn't in this alone – the team shares her determination to create an experience that turns curious first-time diners into repeat customers. "I really wanted the team to feel like they're also welcoming people in their own home and to take ownership over the space," says Hazim. "Everyone loves food and everyone feels connected to the community."
There's so much more to come
Hazim has big plans for Middle Child. As the restaurant develops, the small mezzanine above the restaurant's main space will become home to events like cooking workshops and collaborations. "I'd love to gather cookbook authors or other chefs that can teach classes," says Hazim. "It's a real community space – there's so much more I'd like to do."
Middle Child is the winner of the One To Watch Award 2026, as part of Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants. The full list will be revealed on 3 February from Abu Dhabi.
