Fine dining in Dubai’s Financial District

Roberto’s Italian, located in Dubai International Financial Center does a wonderful job at combining the exquisiteness of classy dining with fine Italian fare. My visit to the restaurant for a midweek lunch was both elegant and indulgent thanks to its elaborate interiors, luxurious seating and a decadent 3 course dining experience.

Roberto’s Italian is designed to accommodate a large number of guests. Featuring a separate lounge/bar area and a restaurant it extends an experience that combines the best of indoor and outdoor dining. The restaurant area features high ceilings, designed with a very classy detailed Italian decor, with purple and white curtains and trimmings. The outdoor area features a wooden terrace.

My guest and myself opted to sit indoors since we wanted a non-smoking area and the it was quite hot for the time of the day, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to seat outdoors during evenings. And I must say, the restaurant was running busy. Luckily, we had made reservations, so that turned out in our favor. It is infact highly recommended to make a reservation before you visit. Roberto’s also features an online reservation system on their website www.robertos.ae.

We started with ordering the drinks. Although its a full licensed restaurant, we did not order any alcohol based drinks. My guest opted for the Estate a Napoli – a classic mint lemonade and I chose the Mango & Ananas – a mango and pineapple cooler. I especially loved the presentation of the drinks in jar-esque glasses. The garnishes were pretty apt for the ingredients; mint leaves for the former and a pineapple wedge for the latter.

As per our server’s  recommendation, we went ahead with a Burratta antipasti to share between two. If you read my posts, you will often see me describe certain dishes as heavenly, and this one was nothing less of that title. Flaunting a deliciously creamy shell of buffalo mozzarella over juicy baby tomatoes, and garnished with basil and a drizzle of olive oil, this rich starter was presented in a gravy boat styled dish. The texture of cheese was smooth, soft and deliciously chewy.

We asked our server to get us a bread basket along with the starters. The basket featured an assortment of white and brown bread rolls, baguette and bread crisps. It came along with a set of three dips – pesto, olive tepanade and chilli paste.

The Poletto chicken dish, in my opinion was the best part of the meal. Served in a hearty portion, the chicken was perfectly spiced, so tender that it fell of the bone. The dish was neatly presented on a rectangular plate combined with just the right amount of carbs and greens – salad on one side, wedges and mash in the centre and chicken to the other side. The salad was fresh and crunchy and the potatoes, were well, like they always are – comforting!

The Mezze Maniche, a pasta dish with chicken and lobster was plated in a deep bowl. We had asked for the lobster to be excluded from the dish since I am not too fond of seafood. The pasta was cooked al dente and was smothered with creamy sauce. The chicken was tender and the peppers were fresh and crunchy. The portion was good for one person.

The Fondente dessert was another surprise. Although much like any other molten cake taste wise, the presentation is what made it a hit. The fondente was presented in an extremely appealing manner with a molten chocolate cake, dusted with white sugar on one side, a scoop of raspberry sorbet with raspberry compote in the centre and jelly to the other side. The portion was perfect for two to share. The texture of the chocolate was deliciously creamy, and we simply loved the melange of cool raspberry sorbet ice cream with warm and gooey melted chocolate.

Overall, I would recommend Roberto’s for a romantic dinner or a stylish brunch. The food was presented in a much more appealing manner than what was described in the menu. The plating and garnishing was done well and the taste definitely exceeded our expectations. The quality of food was rich and decadent. It was fairly priced given the portion and the taste. Although I felt the pace of our meal was a little rushed, the overall service, given the business at the time was perfect. Servers were informative, attentive and approachable.

A little girly tip: Do check out their powder room. They have lovely cushioned purple chairs and big dressing mirrors. So if you are out for a stylish dinner and need some touch ups, you won’t have to go too far.

Valet parking is available and guests need to get their ticket stamped to avail the service for free.

My Visit: 6th April 2015 – Lunch

I would recommend this place for: Romantic dinner or stylish brunch. The restaurant boasts of beautiful interiors with indoor and outdoor seating options and a lounge/bar area.

The occasion: Ideal for a romantic date. The views are excellent, and you could also catch a glimpse of the Burj Khalifa.

The food: 5/5 Burratta and Poletto stole the show!

The value: The prices are from a 5-star range, but the portion sizes and taste was great which makes it excellent in terms of value.

1 Mango & Ananas – AED 35

1 Estate a Napoli – AED 35

1 Burratta – AED 105

1 Poletto – AED 180

1 Mezze Maniche – AED 99

1 Fondente – AED 60

1 Acqua Panna – AED 24

Total: AED 538

The ambience: 5/5 Love the purple and white curtains and the Italian decor. More romantic, private dining options would be a nice addition.

The Experience: 5/5 Exceptional food, amazing views and great service!