Capanna Nuova in Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Capanna Nuova

Waiting staff were ill informed about the menu and volunteered no spontaneous guidance 12 Reviews

This first floor restaurant is decorated in earthy tones. The ceiling is high with dark beams, and the walls are hung with a surprising array of birdcages, lanterns and abstract pictures. There was a hint of what was to come in the significantly dusty display of pasta shapes, old spaghetti, olive oils and Italian vintages in the small entrance lobby. Outside dining is certainly preferable, and we were fortunate that the weather was sufficiently cool for us to dine on the lovely seaside terrace.

The traditional selection of dishes was, without exception, presented without flair or authenticity. Waiting staff were ill informed about the menu and volunteered no spontaneous guidance. The bread selection included cold, chewy garlic bread and doughy, undercooked tomato focaccio. Caesar salad lacked the promised anchovies and the croutons were very old and soft. The bland baked aubergine (served on a chipped plate) was an ungainly portion for a starter. It was also swimming in over-acidic tomato sauce.

The lasagne, served in a soup bowl was an unappetising mound of mince with stodgy layers of pasta. There was no cheese sauce on top and no apology from the waiter when it was sent back. The veal chop with cool vegetables and soft roast potatoes was a little better than the lasagne. It seemed that there was no respite from the bad service, especially after the lasagne saga, when we seemed to be totally abandoned. We eventually ordered dessert.

The almond tart, which had been microwaved, was steaming, dry and crumbly and the pastry was soft. The chocolate syrup and crème anglaise on the plate were very sweet and did not enhance the dish. The panne cotta was tough, rubbery and bland.

The final insult was the fifteen-minute wait for the bill. The pricing of the menus exceeds what would be reasonable for this calibre of food. What a waste of a fabulous venue, with one of the nicest outdoor sea-breeze dining areas in Dubai.