ABOUT CHEF SHANE MAC NEILL

Shane Mac Neill is a multi-award-winning consultant chef who has been working in high-end and Michelin star restaurants since 1997. 

After completing a Diploma in Hospitality management at Worcester College of technology, London looked like the most logical choice.

The first high-end restaurant was with the NOBU Group and it seemed that Asian cuisine was where it was going to continue until today. 

After leaving NOBU Park Lane (1 Michelin Star in 1998) and taking the first head chef position in the group at UBON by NOBU, the seeds had been sown, it was quite daunting but turned out to be a great experience. With the closure of the restaurant looming, the group moved the scope to NOBU Paris; ARMANI/NOBU in Milan (ZAGAT selected list in 2003); followed by NOBU St. Moritz in the Badrutt’s Palace (2 Gault Millau Toques in 2004/2005 season); with a pre-season pop-up in the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich; MATSUHISA Mykonos in the Belvedere Hotel (1 Golden Chef Hat in 2005, 2006 & 2007, 2 Golden Chef Hat in 2008 & 2009 by Toque d’Or Athinorama) and finally MATSUHISA Athens in the Four Seasons Astir Palace (2 Golden Chef Hats in 2009 by Toque d’Or Athinorama & Winner “Best New Ethnic Restaurant” in 2009 by Gourmet Magazine). 

The eleven years with NOBU had been a giant learning curve working closely with Nobuyuki Matsuhisa himself on some of the openings. 

In Milan GIORGIO ARMANI was at the restaurant several times per week which proved to be essential to the business due to his professionalism, strong work-ethic and a genuinely caring attitude towards his staff members. 

Mark Edwards, the NOBU group executive was a pure inspiration from the very beginning at NOBU Park Lane, he also organised twelve months with Jean Georges at VONG in Knightsbridge as part of a year out to learn different types of cuisine. 

CIPRIANI restaurants headed by Giuseppe Cipriani was an opportunity to create a menu and work on more openings from Abu Dhabi to Ibiza, London, Monte Carlo and finally Miami, over a four-year period from 2010 until 2014. Throughout this period, the Cipriani family were incredibly hands on with all projects and professional with a fine eye to detail. This also helped to familiarise with Italian products and cooking techniques. 

In 2015, the Bulldozer group brought NOVIKOV restaurant to Dubai. Shane has been appointed for the opening and has successfully set-up, hired and trained the kitchen team. During this period, Shane has been selected “Pro Chef of the Year Nominee” in 2016 by Pro Chef Middle East & Shortlisted “Chef of the Year” in 2017 by Caterer Middle East. Novikov Dubai received the Highly Commended “Best Asian restaurant” Award in 2017 by Time Out. 

In 2018, Shane began work and opened NOVIKOV in Doha, Qatar. As well as cooking and training, he managed the kitchen design, tableware order, selected suppliers, assisted HR and chose the kitchen team. NOVIKOV Doha is the first NOVIKOV restaurant for the group operating without an alcohol license and all recipes had to be adjusted to the market, which was successfully completed. 

Shane has also successfully completed the opening of SHANGHAI ME restaurant in Dubai, UAE in July 2019. He has developed the menu, hired, trained the kitchen staff and has finished in October of 2021. During that time, Shanghai Me has received the Highly Commended “Best Fine Dining Newcomer” Award by Time Out in 2020 & the Highly Commended “Best Asian” Award by Time Out in 2021, won the first place at the “50 Best Restaurants in the Gulf” in 2020 by Esquire Middle East and received also the “Favourite Asian Restaurant” Award in 2021 by What’s On.

In December 2021, Shane started the MAYABAY Dubai project in Jumeirah Al Naseem with Orange Hospitality under the founder Omar Saideh which opened in May of 2022. He has assisted on the kitchen design, hired, trained all the kitchen staff and has set-up all the kitchen side operation. He still supervising the food and managing the kitchen team. Shane has been shortlisted “Chef Of The Year” by Caterer Middle East in 2023. Maya Bay Dubai received the “Best Asian Restaurant” & “Best à la carte Brunch” Award by Time Out in 2023; 1 Toque by Gault Millau in 2023 & 2024; has been selected in the Michelin Star Guide in 2023; has also received the “Favourite Pan Asian” Award by Fact Dining Award in 2023; the Highly Commended “Best Asian Restaurant” & “Best à la carte Brunch” Award by Time Out in 2024.

In May 2024, Shane, with an experience team, created SAFE I HOUSE, a hospitality consulting company. He is currently consulting for MAYABAY Dubai and other local & international projects.

Shane is married, has one child, and currently lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.