Located in the most golden and glamorous hotel in the capital, the dining room at Italian restaurant Mezzaluna is predictably grand.
It boasts a lofty ceiling, artistic scenes of Venice and other Italian cities on the walls and lots of very expensive looking furniture.
But unlike some of the other restaurants in Emirates Palace it feels classic and stylish, and not too dated or in need of a freshening up.
The staff have a nice manner as well, and they’re chatty without being too formal or overbearing.
There’s no doubt we need help with the menu, as there are just so many options we really don’t know where to start.
There are plenty of pizzas, pastas, steaks and seafood, plus lots of lighter options if you’re looking to stay healthy and avoid anything too carb heavy.
We sit out on the pretty terrace and while we wait for our food we devour several pieces of the incredible olive and sundried tomato focaccia. There’s a whole mini loaf of each (still warm), and it’s so good it takes great restraint not to scoff the lot.
As for the starters, first to arrive is the Toscana salad, a beautiful bowl of fresh salad leaves, juicy prawns, multi-coloured tomatoes and feta. We’re amazed that each piece of cheese has been carefully dusted with different colours, and its clear great care has gone into the presentation.
Next is the parmigiana Siciliana, featuring hearty slabs of aubergine, sweet tomatoes, basil pesto and melted cheese. It’s a super take on the classic and while it’s entirely delicious it isn’t too heavy or rich.
For our main we share the organic chicken breast. Again, it’s gorgeous looking, and we can’t help but take a few snaps for posterity.
It’s a relatively simple dish, like all good Italian food should be, but it’s made with the best ingredients money can buy and perfectly cooked. The tender meat is superb, and it’s served with roasted courgettes and potatoes, sweet puréed carrots and marinated artichoke. It’s a delightful alternative to our usual pizza and pasta combination.
The dishes are definitely fancy. However, they aren’t lacking in substance and the flavours are spot on. We leave very impressed.
WHAT IS IT…
A very classy Italian at Emirates Palace
WHY GO…
The high-quality dishes (just the olive table bread is enough to tempt us back)
