Dubai’s 21grams, the Balkan bistro that has held MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recognition since opening, is launching the Test Kitchen: a dedicated platform for seasonal experimentation that will run alongside the restaurant’s established menu of classics.
The initiative comes as 21grams approaches its tenth year. Founder Stasha Toncev and Executive Chef Milan Jurkovic say it was created not to replace the dishes guests return for, but to give the kitchen room to explore without compromising the restaurant’s identity.
“This isn’t just a menu, it’s a way of working. After almost a decade, we know who we are and what our guests love, but we also believe that great restaurants should never stop learning. The Test Kitchen gives us the freedom to keep exploring new ideas, ingredients and collaborations while staying true to the heart of 21grams. Together, Roots and the Test Kitchen create a menu that honours both tradition and evolution – one preserving the dishes that define 21grams, the other exploring where they might lead next,” Stasha Toncev, founder of 21grams said in a statement.
“The Test Kitchen allows us to create new stories through food. We begin with what the season brings us and let that guide the dish. It’s also about being more thoughtful with how we work, how we source and how we use every ingredient. Every decision starts with flavour, but it is equally shaped by responsibility and respect for the product,” Chef Jurkovic added.
The first Test Kitchen menu includes Steak and Eggs with marinated steak, poached eggs and kashkaval; Gyros Chicken with lemon sauce, capers and herb oils; and a rotating Catch of the Day. Vegetable-forward dishes such as The Tomato Salad and Baked Cabbage with brown butter, cheese and pepper sit alongside a Tufahiya dessert. The menu is designed to rotate with the seasons throughout the year.
