Spellbound by the countryside farmhouse appeal of Homestead at The Yard – Al Khawaneej in Dubai
Text: Roma Arora | Photography: Hayder Al-Zuhairi

Angelo Rosato

Call it paradise and yes it is! Homestead is a place where one can go again and again and not get bored. As you enter this farmhouse-inspired restaurant, its warm, laid-back, and relaxed home away from- home vibe grows on you and you would fall in love with the simple countryside décor theme. Homestead is a full-fledged restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and an adjoining in-house bakery and pastry kitchen that serves handcrafted artisanal bread, pastries, and cakes all day.

There is something soothing and pleasant about the interiors, they blend so well with the whole up-cycled barn-like ambience. Angelo Rosato, senior manager-operations at Meraas and brand manager for Homestead, says: “This restaurant is inspired by the location itself. When this development was coming up, the whole concept was driven by the farm and the homestead all around the world, which are turned into beautiful restaurants. When we started working on Homestead, we thought of incorporating the rustic element and character of the building in the product in itself.” Those, who enjoy their meal in alfresco setting can also enjoy the beautiful views of the lake which is just stone’s throw away and with a picturesque boardwalk and a floral canopy bridge.

The interiors, fabrics, and decor pieces are carefully selected completing the rustic and distinct character of the restaurant area and the bakery section. While the restaurant mixes décor pieces with contemporary furnishings in a mélange of earthy colours, the bakery’s muted pastel tones create a casual relaxed setting. Rosato shares: “Our inspiration was the natural wood elements, a lot of greens, natural colours, choice of the flooring, lighting, and ceiling elements were also selected keeping in mind the theme of the farmhouse. When it came to the sourcing of all the décor and furniture elements, we looked at the local dealers, suppliers from the neighbourhood countries, and those who can produce bespoke handcrafted pieces for us.”

Another noteworthy design element is that how well the crockery of the restaurant blends beautifully with the rest of the place. Clearly, attention to details is a prime characteristic of Homesteads. “A lot of elements in this restaurant has come alive thanks to the visual merchandise, like frames on the walls, pot and planters, terracotta pots on the table, the crockery, everything is part of the design of this restaurant,” feels Rosato.

The restaurant would host a special Iftar menu for the upcoming Ramadan month.