In Dubai’s eclectic, international patchwork of restaurants and bars, it’s fair to say that Italian food is among the most popular and common in the city. If you’re joining Dubai’s Italian restaurant scene you need to come with something special, and Chic Nonna brings unique, flamboyant interiors and food to the glamorous DIFC.
You’ll find the restaurant at the far end of Gate Avenue, where you can't miss Chic Nonna’s huge olive trees and massive two-storey green door. The dining room is equally cavernous, with huge windows providing ample natural light. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling far overhead, making the space feel more like a palace than a restaurant. Attention is drawn to a large open kitchen which is full of busy chiefs, and features a roaring hot pizza oven.
The restaurant name gives a clue to what to expect on the menu - the sort of homely cooking you expect from your nonna, but with the luxury dialled up. The menu glides through an assortment of starters and salads, pizzas, pastas and risotto, main courses, and desserts, with dishes including burrata and tomato carpaccio, cavatelli with cheese, pepper, red prawns and baby squid, John Dory with fresh peas, caviar and sea urchin, and the restaurant’s signature tiramisu which includes gold leaf among the layers.
Meanwhile, Chic Nonna also boasts the largest wine cellar in all over the Middle East - home to around 4000 bottles so they say, with wines sourced from all over the world. You’ll find more than a few rarities among the collection, and sommelier staff are always on hand to help pick out the right bottle. Or, try out the signature cocktails, starting with the truffle-infused Chic Martini.