A new hospitality forum spotlights the real data behind restaurant growth in the region
Foodics, the leading restaurant management and payments technology platform in MENA, has announced the launch of Table Talks by Foodics, a new community-led initiative designed to bring together restaurant founders, operators, creators, and hospitality professionals for candid, insight-driven conversations about building and scaling successful restaurant businesses.
Built as an intimate, invite-only dinner series, Table Talks moves beyond traditional panel formats to create space for honest dialogue inside the environments where hospitality brands are actively being built. Each edition will spotlight a founder’s journey alongside real operational insights, bridging storytelling with data-backed business reality.
The inaugural edition took place recently at the Lila Molino in Alserkal Avenue and featured chef and entrepreneur Shaw Lash, founder of Lila Taqueria and Lila Molino.
Modern hospitality
Shaw Lash’s journey has become one of Dubai’s most compelling modern hospitality stories. After leaving a corporate career, she launched Lila Taqueria in 2023, a wood-fired taqueria built around heirloom Mexican corn and traditional techniques.
As part of the inaugural Table Talks session, Foodics shared exclusive insights into Shaw Lash’s growth journey, showcasing how technology has supported the evolution of the business from a single restaurant into a three-brand, five-location group in just three years.
“By sharing experiences openly, we hope to create meaningful conversations and practical learning opportunities for the wider industry,” says Belal Zahran, Chief Revenue Officer, Foodics.
