‘IL BRUNCH ITALIANO’ AT ARMANI/DELI | REVIEW
Armani Deli has launched the thinking person’s Friday brunch: a three-hour package to be enjoyed anytime between 12.00 and 21.00. Discover what The Luxe Diary thinks of this exceptional new brunch offering in Dubai.
The Concept.
The concept is based on the clever insight that not everybody in Dubai is itching to eat their way around the planet and drink themselves silly, straight after a long snooze, workout or kids’ party. In fact, some of us don’t want to drink ourselves silly at all.
If you like The Luxe Diary, you’ll love this brunch. In fact, you’ll even have time to have your hair and nails done beforehand!
The Setting.
The black feature bar sends out Prosecco, cocktails and wine and enthusiastically accommodates off-menu mocktail requests as well. Well-spaced tables include a semi-private option for celebrations and the terrace seating (catch it while you can!) has a splendid view of the daytime Dubai Fountain show.
The Food.
Entrées & Mains.
The all-Italian pan-regional menu is wonderful and great value. Armani Deli buys only superlative produce and presents it simply, allowing the fresh flavours to sing. Brunch here is a laid-back buffet with elegant grazing stations: choose carefully and you can easily curate a menu that fits your Paleo or clean eating plan.
The seafood, crudo and salad zones (grouped alongside a stand-alone oyster bar) are generous and include items rarely seen on a buffet (hello, vitello tonnato and sfoglia di mozzarella!). Elsewhere there’s a rotisserie (carving from a rib of beef, rack of lamb, a sensational organic roast chicken, a whole salmon) and a binary pasta bar: choose from penne con sugo or a marvellous squid ink risotto con frutti di mare.
Cheese & Dessert.
Turning a corner, we discover an esoteric cheese room (Italian, French and Swiss cheeses are the star players) where the capolavoro is a generous array of cheese-enamoured red wines, all served by the glass. In the dainty patisserie section (superb millefoglia!), the signature talking point is vanilla or coffee-scented zabaglione, siphoned into a shot glass as a foamy topping for fruit or tiny brownie cubes. There are even cannoli, freshly filled a la minute with ricotta cream, for homesick southern Italians.
The Atmosphere.
Evviva! for the well-judged soundscaping, too: music really can make or break a dining experience, especially a chatty brunch.
Bands in Dubai have been known to make us cry extra salt into our truffled lobster bisque… but Armani has struck gold with Bibi, an enchanting Italian songbird, who happens to be authentically Italian.
Kudos to manager Giuseppe for identifying a singer with a vocal range to suit all the covers in her repertoire, performed in English, French and Italian. The friendly, well-informed front-of-house team enthusiastically promotes the fact that Bibi takes requests – a sweet, old-fashioned touch.
The Details.
Timing: Every Friday from 12.30pm to 9pm
Price: AED 450 including hard beverages (valid for three hours); AED 310 including soft drinks (valid for three hours)
For bookings call +971 4 888 3666, email restaurant.reservations@armanihotels.com or visit www.armanihoteldubai.com.
Words: by Danielle Nay | Images: Courtesy of Armani
Based in Dubai since 2009, Danielle Nay is a producer, specialising in creative communications and content for luxury brands. She started out as a publicist in the gastronomy sector: two decades later, Danielle has not lost her appetite for an insanely great restaurant (nor her obsession with beautiful hotels).
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