Agemono Restaurant

Agemono started as a family business whose main goal is to serve good food is now transformed into a gastronomic empire that continues to grow followers not solely in Dubai, but also caters to the entire United Arab Emirates. And to ensure this, Agemono continues to expand and open new branches in different locations in the UAE. As of writing, the food conglomerate will be opening two new branches; the first one is at Panorama Hotel in Deira, Dubai. It has a live acoustic entertainment show and boasts a maximum capacity of about 150 persons. As its following continues to grow the restaurant is expanding it footprint across the UAE as another branch is expected to open soon in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

Right at the helm of this growing food empire, is Chef Roberto F. Gonzales and his wife Maria Rosario Mercado – Gonzales. They both together started the restaurant back in October 2005 at the Al Attar Shopping Mall. Then, its seating capacity was initially 18 seats only. With Chef Roberto’s background, as well as his extensive experience gained from the famous Japanese restaurant Benihana, he started Agemono as a pure Japanese restaurant in the Karama area. While his wife Rio, who at one side, had a vast experience in food and beverage administration from her stint at Intercontinental Hotel Groups (IHG). Their combination of experience in the field of food, beverage and the hospitality industry jump-started and had been the key ingredients in the successful formula of Agemono. International standards but inexpensive and exemplary delicious food is being served from the kitchen of the restaurant.

In less than a year, Agemono started to branch out because in July 2006, they opened up a branch at the Grand City Mall Food Court in Al Quoz, Dubai. However, this move did not only made its mark, it also made a resounding statement that the restaurant is gaining traction in Dubai. More and more patrons, particularly Filipinos alike, began with requests that Agemono start diversifying its menu. Most of them have asked to that the Filipino recipes be also made available. Agemono responded to its customers request and from then on, the demand was staggering. The previously eighteen-seater restaurant started to expand to a sixty-seater restaurant to avoid long queues and to ably accommodate their patrons.

In 2009, Agemono opened its 3rd branch at the International City, as this branch did not only cater to a bigger space, the restaurant also heeded to cater to special occasions such as trainings, birthday celebrations, christening and wedding receptions. Despite of the business and economic turmoil in the Middle East and in the UAE, the restaurant has been a very resilient business. It was also that crucial time they’ve started to invigorate their business by coming up a strategy that would ensure them that their patrons will continue to come and be served with good food in spite of the economy. Thus, they started in Al Quoz the “international buffet”; the taste of unlimited food for a very reasonable price has kept their customers coming back for more. From then on Agenomo was a restaurant brand that is known for good food. In fact, the restaurant group had a total sale of 7.8million dirham in 2011. In 2012, they started to invite investors and share their success by opening up a first franchise branch in the Al Satwa area. With a seating capacity of 120 persons the said branch is always full since it opened.

We are just in the middle of 2013, but Agemono’s thrust to capture the rest of the Emirates’ palates is still un-abating. Today, we will see two new branches being opened and contributing more to what the couple has dreamt eight years ago - that is to bring good food to every table in UAE.