ITALIAN FOOD AT THE ARMANI HOTEL

Sometimes you need to book an extra special meal for an extra special occasion so an Italian meal at the Armani hotel Dubai seemed an obvious choice. Read a clear and  honest review of our experience.

The Ambience

It’s exciting going to the Burj Khalifa at any time and you do feel special pulling up to go to the Armani hotel Dubai.  Once inside the hotel, the Italian restaurant, Armani Ristorante is on the ground floor and unlike many other Dubai hotels, the approach here is less is more. Very muted taupe, type tones with a hushed elegance is evident throughout. We were shown to the bar area which was a little underwhelming and empty (at around 8.45pm) so we opted to go straight to our table. Again there is a strict beigy, classic Armani colour scheme at work throughout the restaurant so while the room itself, with its high ceilings and views of the fountains was impressive, not everyone will warm to the atmosphere.

The Food

We ordered 3 starters, 4 main courses and 3 desserts for 4 adults. All the pasta is freshly made on the premises and is very good. The burrata is excellent as well. Exotic ingredients like sea urchins appear on the menu and were evident in the pastas. The highlight of the meal was the presentation of the salt crusted sea bass in an enormous pastry parcel that is revealed at your table. The fish was the most delicious seabass I have ever eaten. Similarly the steak is finished and served at your table and our discerning and well travelled guests were impressed. However the roasted monk fish was disappointing and didn’t taste as though it had been slow roasted at all. I was surprised the staff didn’t suggest we order accompaniments, as when our meals arrived, they were on the small side.

Desserts included a tiramisu, a chocolate pudding with thyme and a lemon tart type sweet. There seems to be an emphasis on modern presentation that focuses on spindly sugar sticks and flecks of gold leaf on ribbons of chocolate. We all agreed that the lemon dessert tasted the best although wasn’t presented in an appealing way at all. What do you think?

The Service

The service was excellent, and to their credit, we were informed there was only one bottle of the excellent Spainish wine our guest chose, so we selected a different second bottle.  I did think that some Italian waiting staff may be present but ours didn’t speak any Italian!

The Best Bits

Definitely the salt crusted cod and the fact the restaurant wasn’t at all loud so we didn’t have any problems hearing ourselves speak, and we spoke a lot! The view of the fountains and the overall dining room makes a very romantic setting.

Room for improvement?

Definitely, the roasted monk fish really needs to be improved or replaced with a better dish. The presentation of the lemon tart should be made more appetising and I didn’t think the chocolate and thyme combination worked well at all. Call me old fashioned but I do like to have some evidence of coffee and amaretto soaked sponge fingers somewhere in a tiramisu!

The dining room is a beautiful dramatic space, some equally dramatic (big) flower arrangements would have added to the romantic setting and provided some respite from the monotone, quiet colour scheme.

Overall, I think a little more Italy and a little less New York

would go along way to improving

the Armani Ristorante at the Burj Khalifa.

If you’ve eaten there, tell me what you think and where would you go for an extra special meal? La Petite Maison, but you may have to give back your table in 90 minutes, La Serre at the Vida or somewhere else, would love to know.