Front-Row Seat for the Chef’s Tasting Menu Experience at Birch

Take a front-row seat of the open kitchen at Birch, where dining becomes an immersive, sensory experience set against the glow and movement of an open kitchen in the heart of DIFC at The Ritz-Carlton. The room is warm and refined with earthy tones, natural textures, and soft, moody lighting to create an intimate atmosphere that draws you inward, while the quiet intensity of the kitchen sets the rhythm for the evening. From this privileged vantage point, every gesture is visible: flames rising, plates being finished with precision, and the seamless choreography of a team deeply in sync.

At the helm is Chef Arslan Berdiev, a defining voice of the new wave of modern gastronomy emerging from St Petersburg. Trained in some of Europe’s most revered kitchens, including the three-Michelin-starred ABaC in Barcelona and Arzak in San Sebastián, Berdiev brings a global pedigree to his cooking while remaining deeply rooted in his Central Asian and Turkmen heritage. His cuisine is thoughtful and expressive, blending contemporary European technique with Asian, Oriental, and unexpected global influences, never confined to a single region, always guided by flavor and seasonality.

The tasting menus unfold like a narrative, each course revealing contrast, balance, and surprise, with curated beverage pairings ranging from elegant wines to inventive non-alcoholic selections, designed to echo and elevate the flavors on the plate. 

At Birch, Chef Berdiev brings the creative spirit of St Petersburg to Dubai, translating his international perspective for a cosmopolitan audience that values discovery. It’s an experience that feels quietly confident, deeply personal, and unmistakably of the moment.