Armani is an epitome of elegance and luxury be it Fashion or Hotels. Armani Hotel Dubai housed at the epic location of Burj Khalifa the tallest building of the world, has all the reasons to attract not only the tourists but also locals like myself.
After reaching to the this iconic building and having a selfie there (which was mandatory, don’t judge me) we made our way to the entrance where I was welcomed by the hotel staff and humbly informed that the Deli restaurant is on the ground level. Passing through the posh lobby of the hotel and mesmerized with minimalist yet elegant interiors aptly in the harmony of the brand name led us to the elevators which took us to the level of Deli restaurant.
About Deli
Deli restaurant where you can experience authentic culinary fare with Italian flair. From fresh bread and classic charcuterie to European cheeses and tempting pastries, Armani/Deli is like gourmet market in the heart of the city.
Review
I was excited as well as curious to see how the restaurants of opulent Armani looks like. Upon entering your eyes get rewarded with appealing monochromatic checkers theme,decorous design approach and undoubtedly very felicitous to the Armani. Evenly spaced tables with again black and a contrast of cream setup invites you to start your elite culinary experience. After seating down on our reserved table I got to know they even have a alfresco setting and from there you get to fancy Dubai Fountain view that too unobstructed but unfortunately it was closed due to unbeatable hot summers. I am sure in good weather, dining alfresco with this view is totally worth experiencing . Having said that, still you can go out to relish the fountain dance if you can handle the heat.
Now, lets talk about the food, during Ramadan where every other restaurant offers lavish buffets I find set menu more practical and it automatically discourage the chances of wastage. Armani Deli has a set sharing menu in which you get to treat your palates 4 course menu including Amuse Bouche, Starters , Main Course and Dessert.
Amuse Bouche
A platter filled with dates, dry fruits and premium quality nuts was already there for breaking iftar, traditional drinks Jalab and Kamarind, also included in the iftar menu.
A shiny silver carbs tray brought to our table inscribe with the Armani label. I couldn’t help but to impress further with the attention they have given to the details. On others table I could see this bread tray was served with some butter and olive oil but I think my server forgot to serve on our table but no worries, I enjoyed my bread with the soup served as starter.
Starters
- Minestrone Soup with Baby Spinash
- Fried Mozzarella with Fattoush Salad
- Saffron Arancini with Hummus and Oregano
- Pita Bread with Salad Avocado and Burrata Cheese
- Quinoa Tabbouleh with Grilled Salomn
Firstly we were served minestrone soup those who may not know about minestrone. Minestrone is a thick soup of Italian origin made with vegetables, often with the addition of pasta or rice, sometimes both. It was comforting to kick start our session with this soup which was of medium consistency rather than thick which I liked.
Now lets move to the other starters, Pita Bread with Salad Avocado and Burrata Cheese had pieces of fresh burrata that was covered with top notch olive and a red sauce served on the bed of fresh veggies and avocado. I could have had the second helping of these fresh dollops of burrata, they were that heavenly.
Quinoa Tabbouleh with Grilled Salmon, I could sense just by the name that I am gonna love this dish as it has salmon and am totally sucker of it. The soft pieces of seared well salmon with quinoa salad, would melt in your mouth and leaves you wanting more.
Fried Mozzarella with Fattoush Salad was also a healthy option as a starter.
Saffron Arancini with Hummus and Oregano was the third and last starter of the evening. Arancini were delicious and fun appetizer. The balls had thin, crisp shell on the outside and molten cheese-laden risotto within, infused with saffron, for an earthy, aromatic note and having it with hummus was my first time but loved the combo.
Main Course
- Kaffir Risotto
- Ravioli
- Grilled Lamb Chop
- Cajun Chicken
In main course we got to try four dishes, first one was kaffir risotto with shrimps and asparagus, usually I don’t like seafood risotto due to heavy raw kinda smell of seafood but it was not the same here, infact It was one of the best I have ever tried.
Ravioli, these Italian dumpling platter came with filling of baba ganoush and ricotta cheese served with ample amount of tomato sauce. This unique combo of Italian dumplings with Levantine filling surprised us with the flavor and made us happy at the same time.
Grilled lamp chops are something not to be missed here, if you are meat person this dish will definitely delight your taste buds. These chops were served with black pepper sauce and french beans.
Cajun Chicken, well marinated pieces grilled to perfection. The sautéed vegetables on the side complemented the tender pieces of chicken and topped with basil pesto gave character to the dish.
Dessert
Now, the best part of any food session is dessert. So here in iftar menu there is a platter that comes with assorted variety of sweets like cheesecake, awamat, pannacotta and seasonal fruit skewers. Yes! a mixture of international and local variety which delightfully fix your sweet cravings.
The iftar menu here in Armani Deli embraces the humble starters like hummus to the grandeur entree kaffir risotto and ravioli, so If you are looking for a iftar place with stylish surrounding, good food without being heavy on your pocket then Armani Deli is a one place that ticks all the boxes. Try it out and let me know your thoughts in the comment box.
Iftar priced at AD 250 per person
Engineer With Flair 