FROM VENICE BEACH TO DUBAI: ADRIFT BURGER BAR
ichelin-rated Chef David Myers returns to the Middle East with LA- born pop-up at Expo 2020 Dubai
Dubai – 
After launching in Venice Beach last year, ADRIFT Burger Bar is now expanding its footprint to international soil this October with a six-month pop-up at Expo 2020 Dubai. The pop-up marks David Myers’ return to Dubai, a city where he launched three multi-award-winning signature concepts in 2017.
Named “the perfect burger” by The New York Times, Michelin-rated chef David Myers’ legendary burger recipe first made an appearance at his LA restaurant Comme Ça almost a decade ago.
Since then, the epic recipe – inspired by David’s own childhood – has featured on David’s restaurant menus across the world, including in Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai. In 2020, David finally launched ADRIFT Burger Bar in his home-town neighborhood, Venice Beach in Los Angeles. Serving signature burgers, grown-up shakes and crispy sides, ADRIFT Burger Bar embraces David’s Californian roots with hints of his global travels etched across the menu.
“ADRIFT Burger Bar had been on my mind for a very long time and I was thrilled to finally launch it in my own neighborhood, Venice Beach in California, last year” says Chef-Owner David Myers. “I’m incredibly excited to now bring this concept to Expo 2020 in Dubai, a city that is known for bringing together people and cultures through food. I’m a huge fan of Dubai, it’s a city that amazes me with its warm hospitality, hunger for innovation and electrifying buzz every time I visit.”
Although the original Adrift Burger Bar on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice Beach capped its Tokyo- inspired patio at 20 guests with takeout and delivery orders only, its sister venue at Expo 2020 Dubai will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, table service and an extended drinks menu with mixed drinks, craft hops and California grape added. The space is inspired by its Venice Beach namesake with designs by Danny Gonzales, playlists curated by LA producer Jamaal Layne and a mural created by Dubai-based artist Amna Basheer delivering a Tokyo-meets-Venice vibe. The venue’s interior features floor-to-ceiling windows that allows plenty of sunshine into the open space. Concrete features, worn metal accents and open ceilings give the space an industrial edge while shou sugi ban wood effects (an ancient Japanese architectural technique that preserves wood by charring its surface) and an antique oak communal table lend it both softness and warmth.
Unpacking the origin of ADRIFT, David explains: “The ADRIFT Burger Bar concept is part of the ADRIFT brand which I created more than six years ago in Singapore. At its core, ADRIFT is a collection of unique and captivating concepts inspired by my travels, with each ADRIFT conceptshowcasing a different aesthetic and style of cuisine. We’ve so far opened ADRIFT in Singapore,
Tokyo and Venice Beach, with Dubai marking our fourth global location. With ADRIFT Burger Bar, I am celebrating my Californian roots as well as introducing flavors and ingredients that I’ve discovered throughout the world.”
The no-fuss menu at ADRIFT Burger Bar Dubai features Myers’ celebrated burgers, available in single, double or triple, or with a plant-based option. Some highlights on the menu include:
- ▪ The DM Burger: Taking it back to where it all began with Myers’ iconic burger; served with a perfectly cooked, medium-rare patty topped with Vermont Cheddar cheese, shaved onion and lettuce, and secret sauce on a brioche bun
- ▪ The 1940s Classic Burger: A cheeseburger with classic fixin’s and house sauce
- ▪ The Adrift Burger: Medium-rare burger topped with tomato ajwan jam, pickled jalapeños,
herb aioli, arugula, Parmesan and Gruyere cheese
- ▪ TheEarthBurger:Aspinonthe1940sClassic,thistimewithaplant-basedpattyandvegan
cheese and mayo on a vegan potato bun
- ▪ Good Morning Burger: 5oz beef patty topped with a fried egg, Gruyere cheese, tomato
ajwan jam, herb aioli and arugula
To accompany the burger menu, ADRIFT Burger Bar also offers an assortment of sides and epic milkshakes, including:
▪ Curry Leaf Fries
▪ Fried Button Mushrooms with house-made BBQ sauce ▪ Truffle Chips
▪ Elevated Milkshakes, with flavors including:
o Strawberry & Vanilla
o Matcha & White Chocolate o Chocolate Miso Caramel
The pop-up is launching in partnership with UAE-based hospitality company Gates Hospitality.
