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Lunch Room

Riyadh

Brunch remastered – a novel all-day brunch concept

On the Pass

Ahmad Al-Bader

Short history: Self-described as ‘the first brunch room destination’, Lunch Room opened its doors in Riyadh in November 2022 to much fanfare, and has attracted a crowd of loyal diners with reservations usually fully booked weeks ahead. With an intention to create a space the encourages communal dining, the restaurant has managed to stand out in a city that is overrun with trendy brunch and breakfast spots.

Brains behind the concept: Lunch Room was born out of a longstanding partnership between chef Ahmed Albader and Trofi Company, who have collaborated previously on concepts including Chestnut Bakery, first established in London, and Gunbun, a homegrown burger outlet. Chef Albader’s creative approach has ensured an entirely fresh feel to the menu, with a focus on providing a twist to beloved classics, as well as melding different influences into brunch-style dishes.

Why Lunch Room? The kitchen takes inspiration from a bevy of global cuisines, with the two most noticeable influences being Indian street food culture and traditional Arabic favourites. It makes most of its elements in-house, ensuring a comforting smell of bread throughout the day. Lunch Room also lives up to its name, opening from 7am daily and closing at 3pm. Desserts are laid out on a communal table, lending a homey feel to the atmosphere.

On the menu: Popular dishes include sesame-crusted feta with miso caramel tahini, Bombay toast and the brioche French toast with maple, peached pear and vanilla mascarpone. Another creation that has made waves in the community is a simple bread course with gaymar cream and honeycomb – which proved so popular it had people hunting down replicas.

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