Darryl Jerome Fernandes, GM of the Michelin-selected Jun’s Dubai, discusses the significance of delivery and explains how the restaurant is responding to this trend with Liu by Jun.
What are the main reasons behind creating a more relaxed dining experience with Liu by Jun’s?
Liu by Jun’s was launched to provide a more relaxed dining experience through delivery, addressing strategic needs and market opportunities. Guests increasingly seek convenient, at-home dining options, and Liu by Jun’s offers a casual alternative. Therefore, this model delivers high-quality food in a more accessible format, expanding our market reach to a broader audience. Consequently, those who might not visit the restaurant due to distance or time constraints can now enjoy our offerings.
Furthermore, the UAE’s growing food delivery market reflects a shift toward online ordering and contactless transactions, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. Additionally, extreme summer weather in the UAE makes dining in more appealing, and Liu by Jun’s meets this demand by delivering gourmet meals to homes. Thus, this approach not only boosts brand visibility but also builds customer loyalty through consistent, high-quality delivery experiences.
Moreover, it creates new opportunities by catering to frequent orders and stabilizing income during off-season times. In addition, offering a delivery service allows us to cater to a wider audience, including those who may not visit in person. Overall, this inclusivity aligns with our mission to make exceptional dining experiences accessible to everyone, accommodating a wide range of dietary preferences, from gluten-free to vegan.
How do you reconcile the high standards of your Michelin-selected restaurant Jun’s with the casual nature of a delivery brand?
Creating Liu by Jun’s as a more casual delivery brand while maintaining Jun’s Michelin-selected quality requires a strategic approach. Thus, the focus is on offering exclusive dishes designed specifically for this new delivery format. For instance, Liu by Jun’s introduces a menu with unique and innovative dishes not available at Jun’s restaurant.
Moreover, these dishes are optimized for delivery to ensure they travel well and remain delicious upon arrival. To maintain Jun’s high standards, Liu by Jun’s uses premium ingredients from the same trusted suppliers and rigorous culinary techniques. Consequently, maintaining high standards is paramount, regardless of the format. Furthermore, Liu by Jun’s ensures food and service quality through chef-led creativity and consistent team training.
In addition, our menu is crafted by chef Kelvin Cheung, guaranteeing that every dish reflects his renowned culinary expertise and creativity. This ensures that our delivery offerings meet the same high standards as our restaurant. Moreover, we apply the same principles and practices that earned Jun’s its accolades to our delivery service.
Additionally, we are very conscious of our packaging, aiming for minimalism to promote sustainability and reduce waste.
Did demand from your customers lead you to offer a more relaxed and accessible dining option?
Yes, specific guest demands led us to create Liu by Jun’s as a more relaxed and accessible dining option. Over time, we observed several key trends and requests from our guests at Jun’s. For instance, hosting at home is something many of my friends struggle with, especially when catering to guests with allergies. Therefore, we are very skilled in accommodating a wide variety of dietary needs at Jun’s, and Liu by Jun’s reflects this. Consequently, it makes it very easy for hosts to cater to their guests without any stress.
How do you ensure that the quality of food and service remains consistent in a delivery format compared to your fine dining restaurant?
To ensure Liu by Jun’s upholds Jun’s high standards, we focus on several key aspects of both food and service quality. Specifically, we use premium ingredients sourced from the same trusted suppliers as Jun’s, ensuring consistency in freshness and flavor. Moreover, we conducted multiple tasting and delivery trials for each dish to review flavors, textures and temperatures upon delivery. Thus, this process ensures our guests receive the same high-quality food as when packed at the restaurant.
In addition to food quality, we prioritize service excellence to guarantee a seamless dining experience for our guests. Consequently, we have established a partnership with Deliveroo. Furthermore, their customer support team is responsive and attentive, offering assistance through various channels to address inquiries and feedback. Additionally, they maintain clear communication with our guests through order confirmations, updates, and delivery time tracking.
By focusing on these elements, Liu by Jun’s delivers a level of excellence that mirrors the dining experience at Jun’s. At the same time, it adapts to the needs of a casual delivery format.
What opportunities did you notice in the delivery sector that made you confident about launching Liu by Jun’s?
The delivery market in the UAE offers several compelling opportunities, which made us confident about launching Liu by Jun’s. Firstly, the significant rise in demand for food delivery services drove this decision. In addition, the UAE’s fast-paced young entrepreneurs and tech-savvy population, along with those who work from home, prefer convenient, high-quality meals delivered to their doors. Moreover, there is a notable market for high-end delivery options in the UAE, reflecting residents’ increasing desire for premium dining experiences.
As a result, providing gourmet dishes from Jun’s through Liu by Jun’s taps into the demand for luxury dining in an accessible format. Furthermore, the UAE’s affluent market presents an opportunity for increased consumer spending on premium food experiences. Thus, many residents are willing to invest in high-quality meals and unique culinary experiences, supporting Liu by Jun’s viability. Additionally, there is strong potential for brand extension, leveraging Jun’s prestigious reputation to attract both loyal patrons and new customers.
Looking ahead, we’d love to offer delivery for our Kelvin Cakes in the future.
