Splendido situated on the ground floor of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Dubai is so much more than just an award-winning restaurant.
Ritz-Carlton hotels are loved for their refined elegance and Splendido is certainly no different. Walking into the restaurant is like entering a luxurious Tuscan villa. The decor is simple and sophisticated, with a mirrored pillar taking centre stage and monochrome prints adorning the walls framed by the soft glow of candlelight creating an overall charming, romantic ambiance.
For the cooler months there is a beautiful outdoor piazza that overlooks the manicured gardens and makes for the perfect setting for an evening well spent in good company.
The menu reflects the classic nature of the restaurant’s design, offering artisanal Italian cuisine exquisitely handcrafted by Chef Alfonoso with the most thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients. Creative interpretations of loved Italian favourites take centre stage here and to start enjoy a delicious combination of dishes from Prosciutto di Parma Galloni barrique, a limited edition parma ham that has been aged for 2 years in oak barrels and full of flavour to the Beef Capaccio served on a bed of rocket, parmesan cheese and truffle.
It’s practically a crime not to indulge in some pasta when dining in an Italian restaurant as good as this and you’ll be pleased to note that the handmade pasta selection is really quite excellent. This of course sits alongside an extensive offering of meat and fish dishes.
The Tagliatelle cacio e pepe con gamberi crudi , homemade tagliatelle pasta with cacio cheese, black pepper and raw shrimp is a standout dish and as rich and creamy as it is warming making for a hearty take on seafood and the Raviolo alla Bolognese (Raviolo filled with Parmesan cheese and a Bolognese sauce) is also another personal favourite.
For devout carnivores, the Beef Rossini is a great choice of succulent beef tenderloin with spinach and foie gras and the Branzino di lenza cotto (salt-crusted wild sea bass) is one of the lighter options on the menu.
As with all good Italian eateries the wine menu is fantastic and the helpful staff and sommelier are more than happy to recommend specific wines to pair with your courses.
For dessert the options are endless and fair too tempting. I opted for the Tortino al cioccolato or Chocolate Fondant to you and I which was divinely devilish and perfectly topped off with a scoop of Vanilla ice-cream to counteract the richness of all that chocolate.
Splendido is all about the excellent quality of the food and the paired back luxurious atmosphere that we know and love Ritz-Carlton hotels for. So much thought has gone into not only the design of the space but the hand-crafted nature of the recipes themselves that change with the seasons. It’s less of a place to see and be seen and more of a restaurant to slink into enjoying the solitude of a dimly lit corner and the quality of both your food and the company you are in.
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The Insider UAE 