I discovered lately that there are two Armani concepts in the world and Dubai has the two of them; "the Emporio Armani Caffe“ and the Armani Caffe“.
"The Armani might be a little bit more expensive approaching more to fine dining with a more diversified menu than the Emporio Armani."
After trying the Armani in Milan and the Emporio Armani in Paris, now was the time to see the difference with the Dubai one. Situated at the entrance of the Dubai Mall, in the heart of the Fashion Avenue, the Armani “, at first is not the best place you want to enjoy a meal at, for its unappealing location. You'll feel like sitting on a stage, in an opera house where everyone is staring at you, at your performance, at the details of your acts. You are welcomed warmly, with a smile of a beautiful hostess who takes you to your desired table, on the east or west wing. The restaurant is in a lunar shape divided by a square, where the kitchen is hidden.
The menu is divided into more than seven sections covering all the possibilities of the Italian cuisine, from appetizers to pasta main dishes, soups, risotto, fish, meat and more. No one can leave unsatisfied. After ordering two Diet Cokes, yes, I am stopping on this point cause in Dubai, unfortunately nobody serves Coke. Pepsi is the market crasher, so we really appreciated getting served a Diet Coke and not the alternative drink, in the small authentic glass bottle of the funkiest and classiest brand in the world. I ordered, The Mediterranean salad that has a perfect mixture of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green stuffed olives, giant black olives, red onions, tuna marinated with oil, a green leaves assortment and some passion. My wife, asked for the Insalata Del Pastore, a mixed green salad with Calabria smoked ricotta, pine nuts, raisins, Parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes and pears poached in balsamic vinegar with a Gorgonzola dressing. Both were impressively tasty, full of colors and creativity and a t the same time very generous.
While appreciating the salads, a red hot dried mashed Capsicum mix and a homemade tapenade were served with warm Italian style bread. I found the idea phenomenal, a bit spicy for the non-hot lovers, but delicious. As a main course and now is the important part, we ordered, a normal tomato sauce spaghetti that I found very correct and tasty with the same taste as the Parisian one, and the DIAVOLA pizza: the DIAVOLA pizza, is devilish indeed: crunchy, bread, hot tomatoes, melting mozzarella, fennel seeds, beef salami and fire flaming hot chilly flakes that take you to mars with every bite. It is if I remember well one of the tastiest and yet hottest Pizzas I have ever tried in my life. I would really recommend it and really appreciated it dispute some itching and some sweating (since my body does not support that quantity of pimento).
The overall experience was so strong that we couldn't have desserts, unfortunately, since I was Eagerly awaiting to try the tiramisu or the extra dark chocolate mousse.
It is a recommended place for a quick delicious tasty lunch, that will cost you an average of 50$ per person.
