While in London earlier this year, I finally got to dine at Fait Maison, a beautiful restaurant that is perfectly Instagram-able (picturesque at every turn) and has an incredible menu. The restaurant has a menu that features French-Khaleeji cuisine. It was busier than I like (quieter meals in more spacious settings is my preference) but beautiful, popular restaurants are rarely quiet.

The restaurant has several locations, including one in Qatar. Since I stayed near Mayfair, I went to the Gloucester Road location (I went to the Salon de Thé, which is just a block away from another Fait Maison locations). I arrived during the brunch rush which, in hindsight, was a bad idea if my goal was to enjoy a quieter, more leisurely experience. That being said, the room was buzzing with families and “ladies who lunch”, and among the throngs I spotted Yvonne Osman (Om Waleed) the chef and proprietress of Fait Maison. A perfectly styled and elegant beauty, she looks exactly like the lovely caricature featured on the menu cover (that’s how I knew who she was!). She’s a swan in human form, and she floated through the restaurant with an inspiringly calm and self possessed energy.

For my brunch, I enjoyed the Balaleet and the Fattoush Salad. The Balaleet featured sweetened saffron noodles that reminded me a bit of chopped up rice vermicelli (I’m not sure what kind of noodle was used: I didn’t ask). The noddles were topped with crumbled pistachios and a few beautiful dried rosebuds. The combination of sweet, savory and earthy was divine. The Fattoush Salad was an intoxicating blend of lettuce, pomegranate molasses, fresh mint, sumac, and pomegranate seeds, served in a crisp flat bread bowl that the server crushed together tableside, before serving it to me. I wish I got a picture before the crushing happened: the presentation both before and after was stunning. This salad continued the sweet/savory/earthy theme, but also added a bit of tart brightness with the pomegranate. Both dishes tasted heavenly. With my meal, I enjoyed some tea and leaned into my people watching hobby: this location is perfect for viewing beautiful people enjoying their beautiful lives.

Fait Maison is such a fresh interpretation of vintage French-inspired dining. A meal here is like eating in a Rococo fantasy: the tables, wall art, and other interior design touches all create a dazzling effect that perfectly presents the Euro/Arabian style fusion that carries through the menu. I relished this experience and I can’t wait to return, so I can dine at some other locations and try some more of Fait Maison’s offerings!

Have you been to any of the Fait Maison locations? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!