INA Arrives in Dubai as Fundamental Hospitality, Evgeny Kuzin, and acclaimed Chef Glen Ballis reveal their fiery new lifestyle concept at J1 Beach

A brand-new culinary venture is about to touch down at J1 Beach Dubai with the highly anticipated arrival of INA. Fundamental Hospitality, renowned for creating original “Made in Dubai” concepts, will be expanding its remarkable portfolio with this latest addition by welcoming prominent Chef Glen Ballis to bring INA to life. The first venture in Dubai for Chef Glen, the venue will offer guests the chance to experience a completely new style of dining.

Evgeny Kuzin, Chairman of Fundamental Hospitality, said, “Fundamental Hospitality prides itself in creating innovative new dining and lifestyle concepts in Dubai which are both dynamic and experiential and I believe INA is the latest example of this. INA is inspired by the cultural concept of connecting with food and shared dishes, and open-fire dining. But INA is also experiential; allowing guests to dine, socialise and dance late into the night. We believe INA is another of our “Made in Dubai” concepts that can be enjoyed in other key destinations across the world.”

The Acclaimed Chef Behind INA – Chef Glen Ballis

Australian-born Ballis has travelled the world collecting ideas, mastering his craft and building a portfolio of impressive creative concepts to share with the many guests at his venues, and INA is no exception. Like its fearless leader, this restaurant will not be lacking in charisma and authenticity, from the exceptionally crafted dishes to the interior design, the warm service and the artistic cocktail list; Chef Glen’s touch is felt across every detail.

The innovative chef brings to INA a wealth of culinary expertise drawn from an illustrious career spanning Australia, Asia and most recently Russia. His aim is to create mouthwatering dishes through honest, flavour-driven cooking, and INA is the perfect stage for his passion for immersive, fire-focused gastronomy. With a philosophy rooted in simplicity and authenticity, Chef Glen envisions INA as a dining destination where primal techniques meet refined craftsmanship, creating dishes that tell a story of connection and creativity. Under his guidance, the venue will not only deliver exceptional food but also cultivate a sense of discovery and togetherness, ensuring every meal is a memorable experience.

Appealing Aesthetics

The name INA is inspired by the smoldering spirit of Africa. INA – meaning “fire” or “flame” in Nigerian Yoruba, exhibits an interior design of immaculate detail top-to-bottom. In winter months, guests can enjoy their evening under the stars with an open-air retractable roof creating an unassuming oasis of indulgence at the beating heart of the J1 stretch, while in the summer months, the site provides a blissful retreat from the harsh Dubai heat with full climate control under its canopy.

Every inch of the space is adorned with bespoke luxury finishes, from hand-crafted woodwork features to custom artworks and stunning soft-furnishing details. With innovative lighting schematics and an intentionally designed floorplan, this venue speaks volumes to masterful interior design for ambience and a versatile operation, encouraging guests to move around the space and explore throughout their visit.

An Innovative Menu

INA’s menu will feature a seasonally curated variety of fresh, high-quality fish, meats, vegetables and grains, expertly cooked on Dubai’s largest open-fire grill. Featuring a guest-visible kitchen off of the main dining space, visitors will have a direct view into the industrial-style grill where fresh produce will hang ready to be seared on the fire by Chef Glen’s highly skilled team in an almost instinctive operation of passion, creativity and culture. INA’s culinary team seek to source the highest-quality produce available, putting ingredients at the centre of their ethos.

Serving a wide variety of options, from smaller bite-sized dishes to larger sharing plates and beautifully arranged platters, guests are invited to explore the cuisine and discover their own favourite creations. Be it a selection of small plates designed to pack as much flavour into each bite as possible or a few large dishes served family-style for everyone to enjoy together, each culinary masterpiece is brimming with heart. Either way, diners can expect to be guided by exceptional staff trained to curate each table with guest experience in mind, where every dish contributes to their evening and becomes a talking point over which to nurture social connections and create memories.

Speaking of the project, Chef Glen said, “Dubai is a new market for me, but I plan to approach INA with complete integrity. Food is something everyone knows, it’s a good way to connect people, it’s our universal language, and it’s emotional. I want people to talk about it, to savour these dishes and share this meal together, to forge connections, and to make memories around the table. A lot of my time in Asia and the Middle East has fueled my passion for sharing concepts in this way. It’s not a quick, thoughtless decision we’ve made for INA, it’s a carefully designed experience”.

Tantalising Signature Beverages

In accompaniment to its impressive culinary offering, INA’s beverage program boasts an array of intelligently constructed cocktails and mocktails with an undeniably luxurious feel and artistic delivery. Each sip is the product of vast knowledge, research, and experience spanning numerous continents, crafted by the hands of some of the world’s leading mixologists. In close collaboration with the kitchen, this bar will also feature fresh ingredients from the open-flame grill, used as garnishes and worked into creative infusions, remaining true to INA’s dedication to quality in every detail. Boasting a strong list of signature beverages, a thoughtful and varied grape offering, and an enviable selection of rare and premium spirits, there will be something for everyone behind INA’s stunning bar.

The Venue for all Occasions

INA will not only cater to intimate gatherings, but it also has the capability to host larger parties and private corporate occasions with a range of high-value, bespoke packages to suit various events and celebrations. Guests can choose specific areas of the restaurant to call their own and will be met by a team of dedicated events professionals equipped to design an array of personalised experiences sure to impress.

INA will certainly fill a gap that’s been missing in Dubai’s hospitality landscape, seeing a cleverly re-imagined return to the basics of fire-cooking, while perfectly situated amongst its peers as the central unit of the luxury J1 shore.

Expect excellent service, fire, and food done really, really well.

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