An Italian restaurant with a unique location
We’ve been waiting years to finally see who takes up residence in the blue neon tunnel in Emirates Financial Towers in DIFC. Now we know: It’s Al Grissino Restaurant & Lounge, opening on May 10 with chefs Stefano Lanfredi Sofia and Diego Simonetta. The owners tell us that it “brings the taste and authenticity of its namesake in Milan to Dubai’s dining culture”; the restaurant in Milan of the same name dates back to 1952. Al Grissino will serve a seafood-heavy menu “with particular attention to starters, which are the real soul of the restaurant,” according to a release. Call 04-3524000.
Private dining now at Claw BBQ
The folks at Claw, the US-style seafood and comfort food bar at Souk Al Bahar, have been working on “The Barn” — a private dining room. Although the restaurant is known for its fun atmosphere, so we can’t imagine why you’d want to miss out on it, they do make some tempting promises: retro arcade games, darts, console and board games, 65-inch screens playing sports, your own jukebox tunes (a highlight, for sure) and your own fridge of beverages. It’s available for daily hire from May with five three-course party packages, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 24 (sitting) and 40 (standing room). Call 04-4322300.
Jazz, chicken and waffles
Cravin’ Cajun at Novotel Dubai Al Barsha is celebrating International Jazz Day on April 30 with live music and a special offer on their signature chicken and waffles — 40 per cent off. The house jazz trio will play the likes of Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane and Sonny Miles. It’s open Monday-Saturday, 7-11.30pm; call 04-3049000.
TRE by Roberto Rella is open
Describing it as “the culmination of his career to date”, the man behind the Roberto’s brand has launched his third restaurant baby in Dubai. On the 49th floor of the Radisson Royal Hotel, TRE (“three”) is unsurprisingly over three storeys, with a restaurant, bar and lounge, serving Italian food (ricotta and spinach ravioli with white truffle sauce; blue cod with artichoke and purple potatoes; deconstructed tiramisu) in opulent surroundings (the private dining room is called the Kings Room). The lounge has a DJ while the bar has live jazz music four nights a week. Call 04-4047700.
Leila now in Arabian Ranches
The bright and fun (and tasty) Lebanese restaurant Leila is now open in Arabian Ranches 2, their third location in the UAE after Downtown and Mirdif City Centre, serving everything from a traditional breakfast (labneh, fattet hommous, marinated chickpeas, lahmeh bil ajine, egg with qawarma and zaatar) to lunch and dinner. There’s an outdoor terrace overlooking a golf course, and they also do delivery; it’s open 9.30am-midnight.
Former owners of NKD Pizza break free
The guys who brought you NKD Pizza — famous for its “healthy” crusts and toppings — have set themselves free from the franchise and launched their own operation, Freedom Pizza. Robbie Vitrano and Ian Ohan have five stores already open in Dubai, with one to come in Abu Dhabi shortly. They promise “an unrivalled average delivery time of 23 minutes” as well as what sounds like a similar concept to NKD: vegetables from Greenheart Organic Farms, gluten-free pizza crusts and desserts (by Skinny Genie) and Italian-style cheese products made locally. Vitrano and Ohan call Freedom the “manifestation of their dream to create a locally-owned brand that embodies trust, generosity, honesty, and a spirit of collaboration”.
