Positano, named after the Italian region, is tucked away on the second floor of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. A mere stone's throw from the Dubai Canal, the restaurant boasts impressive views across the city thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. The space itself is elegant yet relaxed, featuring modern lighting, simple furnishings and an open kitchen so diners can glimpse the chefs at work. In the kitchen, the chefs use the finest, freshest ingredients to craft authentic Italian dishes, including pizza using the traditional pizza oven.
For a true taste of Italy, start your meal with a cocktail like a limoncello spritz (limoncello, Prosecco, orange, lemon and mint), or the Ischia (gin, martini bianco, fresh grapefruit). If cocktails aren't your thing, there is a short but carefully selected list of Italian wines to sample, available by the glass, carafe or bottle. There is also a longer list by the bottle, including some non-Italian entries. Beers, liqueurs, mocktail and soft drinks are also available, as well as coffee and tea.
As any connoisseur of Italian food will know, it all starts with antipasti. At Positano, the selection includes classic dishes like burrata with cherry tomatoes, basil and olive oil, wild mushroom and truffle arancini, calamari fritti and fresh tomato bruschetta. For something colder, there are charcuterie selections and beef carpaccio too. The pasta offers a similarly star-studded cast, with entries like carbonara (here with beef bacon), lasagna, truffle gnocchi, seafood linguini and spinach ricotta ravioli with crispy sage and brown butter.
The main event is the carne e pesce (meat and fish). Here the kitchen pulls out all the stops with likes of a Black Angus ribeye with rocket and balsamic onions, braised veal shank with saffron risotto and gremolata or whole seabass with tomatoes, olives, capers and olive oil. If pizza is what you're after, there are ten to choose from, so you're guaranteed to find one that's right for you. The desserts are similarly authentic, so end on a high with the likes of affogato or tiramisu.