Marasi House
The Vision
Marasi House opened its first location in Downtown Dubai with a simple idea in mind to create a neighborhood café where people could come for good coffee, thoughtful food, and a relaxed place to spend time.
The founders wanted the space to feel welcoming and familiar rather than overly formal. The type of café people drop into regularly for a quick coffee in the morning, a casual meeting, or a comfortable lunch.
During the early stages of development, the team partnered with Harris•Aoki to help shape the menu and the kitchen operations before launch. The focus was not only on the food itself, but also on making sure the kitchen could deliver the menu smoothly during daily service.
From the start, the goal was to build something practical and sustainable. A café that felt effortless for guests, but was organized behind the scenes so the team could work confidently once service started.
As Marasi House established itself in Downtown and began building a loyal group of regular customers, the concept naturally started gaining momentum. What began as one café eventually grew into a developing brand, leading to the opening of a second location in JVC.
The Challenge
Launching an independent café in Dubai comes with a number of moving parts. The founders had a clear vision for the ambience and style of the café, but translating that idea into a working operation required planning.
The menu needed to feel creative and appealing while still being manageable for the kitchen team during busy service periods. At the same time, the kitchen layout had to support that menu properly. Station setup, equipment placement, and workflow all needed to work together so the team could operate efficiently.
Another important part of the process was supplier sourcing. Consistent ingredients and reliable kitchen supplies are essential for maintaining quality and controlling food costs, especially for a café that expects regular daily traffic.
Finally, the kitchen team needed to be trained before opening so that the menu could be executed consistently from the very beginning.
Our Approach
We worked closely with the founders from the development stage through to the launch of the café, providing support across several areas of the project.
Menu Development
The menu was developed with the café’s concept in mind, well-balanced dishes that suited a relaxed neighborhood setting. During development, recipes were tested and adjusted through tasting sessions. This helped refine flavors and simplify preparation where needed, making sure the dishes worked both from a guest perspective and from an operational point of view in the kitchen.
Kitchen Layout Guidance & Workflow Optimization
An efficient kitchen layout can make a big difference once service begins. Working alongside the kitchen design team, we reviewed the layout and provided guidance on station organization and equipment placement. The aim was to create a setup that allowed the team to move comfortably through the space and avoid unnecessary disruptions during busy periods.
Kitchen Equipment Selection & Allocation
We also supported the founders in choosing the right equipment for the café’s menu and production needs.
Through our network, we introduced suppliers known for reliable kitchen equipment and helped guide decisions around what would be most practical for the space. Equipment placement was also considered so the kitchen could operate smoothly during service.
Supplier Connections & Product Sourcing
Supplier relationships were established early in the process. We assisted Marasi House in identifying trusted vendors for ingredients and essential kitchen supplies. This helped the café secure consistent product quality while keeping purchasing more structured and manageable.
Food Tasting & Product Refinement
Before opening, tasting sessions were held with the founders and the team to review the developed menu items. These sessions allowed everyone to evaluate the dishes, make adjustments where needed, and make sure the recipes aligned with the brand’s direction in terms of flavor, presentation, and practicality.
Chef Training & Operational Support
Hands-on training sessions were carried out with the kitchen team before launch. The training focused on recipe preparation, station setup, and maintaining consistency during service. By the time the café opened, the team already had a clear understanding of how the menu should be executed.
Deliverables
At the end of the project, the Marasi House team received a complete operational package. This included detailed recipe SOPs with dish images, food costing sheets, market lists, preparation lists, supplier contact information, and the finalized menu.
These documents gave the team a practical reference for kitchen preparation, purchasing, and recipe execution, helping maintain consistency across the menu.
Results & Impact
Marasi House launched successfully in Downtown Dubai and quickly became a popular neighborhood café. Because the menu, kitchen workflow, and staff training had been addressed before opening, the team was able to begin service with a clear structure in place. The kitchen operated smoothly, and the team adapted quickly to the daily pace of the café.
As the café built a loyal customer base, the owners began planning their next step. The concept continued to grow, leading to the opening of a second location in JVC. For this second café, the founders chose to continue working with Harris•Aoki, following the same structured development approach used for the first location.
Support for the new site included a new menu offering, kitchen layout guidance and workflow planning, supplier sourcing, food tastings, and chef training.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between Marasi House and Harris•Aoki continued as the brand expanded to its second location. Working together again made it easier to carry forward the operational systems and culinary direction established during the first project, while adapting them to suit the new space in JVC.
As the brand continues to grow, the focus remains on maintaining consistency, refining operations, and strengthening Marasi House’s presence within Dubai’s café scene.
Let’s Build Your Culinary Vision Together
Whether you’re launching a new café or developing an existing concept further, Harris•Aoki combines culinary expertise with practical operational guidance to help bring hospitality ideas to life.
If you’re planning your next project, our team would be happy to support you in shaping the concept and preparing it for launch.
Hither & Yon
