Why Cucina Needs to Be Your Regular Neighbourhood Italian

Cucina transports you to an authentic Italian kitchen

I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of the different stages of Cucina the Italian Kitchen’s opening. I could touch on the industry lingo and fling phrases like “homely Italian concept,” “rustic,” and “sharing-style dining experience” about. It is all of those, but it is also so much more.

While beautifully designed and situated in the gorgeous new Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Cucina breaks away from trying to compete to be the hottest new location. It doesn’t have to. Despite the meticulous attention to detail where everything is the high quality we have come to expect from establishments in Dubai, there is nothing pretentious about Cucina.

Led by a passionate team from the south of Italy – with Chef Emanuele Rizzo at the helm and Maria Ibba managing the restaurant – Cucina fuses old-school Italian charm with chic-contemporary flair, regardless of the time of day or occasion.

For something different, Cucina serves its wine on tap offering three Italian wines and three contemporary blends, boasting a first-of-a-kind concept in Dubai. If a carafe of wine doesn’t tickle your fancy, the many expertly crafted aperitivo options, including Cucina’s signature sodas fermented in-house, are sure to be more to your taste.

While the menu has been carefully compiled to offer the best Italian cuisine, where portions are available in single or sharing options, we need to discuss the carbs. From the bread to the pizza to the pasta, you will never be left feeling bloated and lethargic. Instead, you’ll get up from your meal feeling perfectly satisfied. I know nobody thinks of salad when they go out for Italian food, but do make an exception for the signature burrata.

The main menu is bursting with choices from slow braised goat, lamb rack served with a vegetable caponata and pine nuts, and hearty tomahawk steaks to non-halal options, including pork sausage and the butcher’s board selection.

If you still have the stamina after your meal for something sweet, the dessert menu is simple, but each item is delicious, though the tiramisu is really quite special. The in-house gelateria, Gelateria by Cucina, creates its own house-made selections, boasting varieties from traditional flavours such as stracciatella and pistachio to signature specials. Each scoop is perfect as a standalone treat or as a sweet ending to a delicious meal.

Finally, the overall atmosphere of the venue needs a special shoutout. The tables are perfectly distanced from each other, so it never feels like neighbouring diners are on top of you while you’re trying to have a conversation. On the topic of conversation, you are able to have one because the music is kept at a decibel that provides a great soundtrack to the evening without requiring you to scream at your companions, and that is rare in Dubai. The lighting is equally well considered. It’s dim enough to be flattering but bright enough to see what is on your plate.

If you’re not ready for your Cucina experience to end by the time you leave, the retail area offers a range of Italian-imported items, such as its balsamic vinegar and top-quality tinned tomatoes. Cucina also offers the perfect collectable souvenirs, ranging from Italian-themed postcards to ceramic dinnerware.

Cucina is open daily from 7am to 1 am.
For bookings call (04) 666 1408; email reservations@cucinathepalm.com