I’ve known Duha for a few years since we used to work together, so I know how hard she works and how much effort she’s put into this (as well as how good her food is). Faye is her new restaurant, a chef led, upscale neighborhood spot opening today in the new Hessah Mubarak District. It’s built around how Duha loves to cook, Mediterranean ingredients typically around her, elevated through European techniques.
Faye isn’t a soulless concept, it’s personal and meant to feel like a place you belong. Somewhere warm, welcoming, refined but never intimidating. I passed by yesterday to check out the space and I really do love it. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, but the indoor space is the star for me. The surreal organic ceiling flowing down towards the kitchen’s emerald green marble pass really gives the space a very unique look.
Duha also partnered with Seazen, the group behind concepts like Trapani, Okra, Masgouf and Melanzane. They’re handling the operational side of things so she can focus on the food and the brand.
Faye is soft opening tonight with a condensed menu, with the full menu launching after Eid. If you want to check it out, it’s right next door to The Neighbourhood at the entrance of Hessah Mubarak District (Google Maps). You can also check out their Instagram @faye.restaurant
3 replies on “Faye A New Restaurant by Kuwaiti Chef Duha”
It’s great to see a restaurant that’s got it right with sourcing of the ingredients. Decor, ambiance and all the rest of it can only play second fiddle to what’s on the table. More power to their tribe. Often times, we only see gloss and style trumping substance and you often find such places going under and becoming extinct in no time. I am glad they thought up ‘Faye’ to call their baby. Somehow, it reminds me of Fa (the bubble bath like) freshness. Ranting off topic, do we know if the Blue Elephant Thai is still in operation ?
Blue Elephant I think closed down over 10 years ago and Hilton doesn’t exist anymore closed down a couple of years ago
Based on a personal experience, the restaurant was extremely disappointing and fell far short of expectations, for the following reasons:
Lack of respect for customers’ reservations: Despite contacting the restaurant and making a reservation more than four days in advance to celebrate a friend’s birthday, we were informed upon arrival that no table was available. We were then made to wait for over 15 minutes until they brought in a table from outside and seated us right by the entrance, exposed to constant foot traffic. The door remained open the entire time, which resulted in our clothes being affected by the rainy weather outside. When we requested to change our seating, no one responded until we escalated the issue to the restaurant manager, who then arranged for a different table and also it was so bad.
Extremely poor service: We were not offered any complimentary hospitality items, even though they were clearly provided to all the surrounding tables.
Disorganized food service:
We ordered a variety of dishes, including salads, appetizers, and main courses. However, the order of service was completely chaotic. The salad arrived first, followed by only one main course, then additional main courses, and finally the appetizers were served last. This lack of coordination was both surprising and unacceptable.
Incorrect main course served: One of our main orders was a Ribeye steak. Upon receiving the dish, we discovered it was a completely different type of steak. When we questioned the staff, we were informed that the Ribeye was unavailable and had been replaced with another cut—without any prior notice or consultation with us.
Unprofessional handling of the birthday request: At the end, we ordered a cake and specifically requested that “Happy Birthday” be written on it with a candle for our celebration. We were assured this would be done. However, the cake was served plain, without any writing or candle. When we inquired, the staff informed us that they did not have the necessary tools to write on the cake or any candles available. Although we chose to overlook this and began eating, the cake itself was not enjoyable. To make matters worse, just as we were finishing, the waiter brought the cake sauce—an essential component for its proper taste—which should have been served from the beginning.
In summary, the entire experience was a complete failure, demonstrating a shocking lack of professionalism, organization, and even the most basic standards of customer service.