Rococo

Successfully inventive Italian food in a quasi romantic setting 15 Reviews

Meal Deal

Rococo’s bespoke tasting menus

Create a bespoke tasting menu. From Dhs170 (three courses), from Dhs250 (with grape) Timings: 7pm-11.30pm (Thursday)

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Let us start by saying the food at this JBR venue is worthy of applause – experimental combinations almost always deliver, and the selection of fresh pastas are so good you’ll find yourself considering dating the chef in order to gain intimate access to the hand-rolled wholewheat spaghetti. Sadly, there are elements that dull the palate, namely lacklustre service and the fact that the rich purple interiors and romantic aspirations are marred by a location on the podium level of JBR, meaning the ‘view’ is of people in their togs walking from A to B. That said, highlights like the tangy and moreish salami spaghetti and the gorgeous tuna tartar that inventively presents egg in three textures make up for many of the faults.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 22 March 2012

• Previous reviews
  • 12 September,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 24 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 29 June,2010- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Phillipa on 07 Apr ' 12 at 01:20

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

We have eaten here a couple of times recently, and will come back. It is one of the few places we have been in Dubai where the staff can have a knowledgeable discussion about wine, the rest of the service was exemplary including a warm welcome on arrival. The lobster in tomato broth is a must, sous vide duck was delicious, as was the rest of our food.
The only small thing was that the second time we came, the curtains were drawn and the view of people wandering along the plaza reduces the ambiance a bit - just take a table facing the other way instead.

Posted by: William Dubai Resident on 07 Dec ' 11 at 14:55

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Extremely dissapointed...
food: 0 taste and schoolish-like presentation
service: 0 knowledge/attentivness
decor: altough beautifull, no one is there and mades it sad
I call the manager to complain and never came, only cheff came to our table and "thank" us- in a very poor english (with very strong italian accent), for dinning with them... did I mention I told the satff I wanted to complain??

Posted by: Luigi Bork on 21 Nov ' 11 at 16:22

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Very dissapointed, since they got the new cheff the food quality has gone and what you can get now is nothing good... I always give 3 oportunities but not in this case... no flavour, no service and no atmosphere... one of the worst places

Posted by: Gala Marseiile on 30 Oct ' 11 at 10:34

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Very nice food, chef Wlady is fantastic in his new innovations -it is true, some of them still need to be retouch, but food is very nice.

However, service was terrible... lak of knowledge and NO ONE at the door to greeting us or to check our booking... ;'(((

I'll be back cause I really like to keep on trying the food -despite the service.

Posted by: Ricardo on 25 Feb ' 11 at 13:18

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I looked for a nice romantic restaurant somewhere where we both hadn't both been before, what we got was a nicely furnished but somewhat depressing surrounding. The ambience was very drab with it being a Thursday evening, the food whilst very good was far too small to satisfy any kind of hunger and after 3 courses we were both still hungry.

The view outside is also obscured by the fact it also doubles up as a podium link between the JBR towers, billing itself as a romantic restaurant whilst watching people cycling, running, skateboarding etc isn't exactly pleasing to the experience.

Finally at 11:30, the tables were turned down, the music switched off and we got the distinct feeling we were impeding the staff who were keen to shut the restaurant down.

All in all, nice food but disappointing - the hotel needs to work on a few things, especially the mouse-like portions.

Posted by: Henry on 25 Feb ' 11 at 13:00

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I'd love to thank all my guests who visited me in the past year at Rococo. I am not longer working at this restaurant since beginning of 2011 but you can still find me in Dubai where I am working on a re-opening of a beach club on the Palm Jumeriah. Hope to see you guys soon.
Warm Regards
Chef Enzo Neri

(Ps: thanks for the great reviews)

Posted by: Roberto on 08 Nov ' 10 at 17:17

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The atmosphere is romantic and caring of details, the service is careful but the key point is for sure the food!
Enzo is really an artist and even if I'm Italian and used to good Italian cooking, I have eaten really few times sowell as at Rococo Restaurant.
The entree of cappesante on a bed of spinach delighted my mounth before a the best carbonara I've ever had.
The matching company made this dinner unforgettable.
Thank You Enzo and Rococò
Roberto

Posted by: Helen Croft on 03 Nov ' 10 at 10:07

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I am a huge fan of this restaurant!

My first visit was about 10 months ago when i was invited to a friends birthday dinner. We took the private lounge and were treated to a VERY special celebration dinner.

In total i think i have probably eaten in restaurant about 10 times! It's my favourite restaurant and serves the BEST Gnocchi I have ever tasted!

Posted by: Mark Leo on 03 Nov ' 10 at 09:57

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FoodAmbienceValue

Enzo Neri is a Maestro of the Italian cucina. He takes tradtional ingredients preparing them with passion and care. The result is nothing less than what you will eat in some of Italy's best restaurants. He has trailblazed his unique and authentic interpretation of the Perugian kitchen to new heights. The review was a tad unfair and maybe Daisy was too busy with her date to genuinely appreciate the food, that happens too you know!
Having many happy months in Italy in Lazio and again next week in Milan, I can tell you Enzo's kitchen is at the very pinnacle of Italian cooking. A definitive must eat location in Dubai, far away from the tomato ketchup joints. And then a conversation with Enzo will reveal the man behind the food, always intriguing and so profoundly knowledgable.

Posted by: irene chietti james on 03 Nov ' 10 at 09:45

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Viola on 03 Nov ' 10 at 04:30

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This is one of the best restaurant I've ever been in my life (I'm italian and I love food so I know what I'm talking about) and for sure the best italian restaurant in Dubai.
All chef Enzo's dishes have a strong personality and it's amazing how he can combine tradition with creativity.
Here you can always find only find top fresh italian ingredients so I don't think it's overpriced.
Chef Enzo is a genius!!!

Posted by: Ahmed Ben Chaibah on 01 Nov ' 10 at 16:02

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FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

one of the best Italian meals iv ever had in my life.
Chief Enzo is a true master
educated me alot on new flavors i never dared to try, food is rich with all types of contrasted tastes , i spent around 3 hours indulging in 7 course meal. had a smile on my face after every bite .
glad i didnt have lunch that day and came for and early dinner .
Totally going there again very soon

Posted by: Geoff on 30 Oct ' 10 at 19:03

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Fantastic dinner at Rococo! First impressions - sophisticated, elegant, but intimate dining space. Tables well spaced. Attentive service. Food - fantastic! Some of the best seared foie gras I have ever enjoyed - perfectly caramelised on the outside, unctuous on the inside. Overshadowed the accompanying beef carpaccio. Main course a non-traditional version of pasta carbonara with fantastic fresh sicilian-style pasta tossed with a rich but not overwhelming sauce which was given a novel but delicious spin with the use of diced crackling rather than the traditional pancetta. Delicious! Just wish I had saved enough space to try the famous tiramisu. Next time...

Posted by: Mauro Zanchetta on 30 Oct ' 10 at 13:29

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Very nice place... real good italian food with a particular touch that You cannot find anywhere else in Dubai..
Compliments to Chef Enzo , really a Master.
The only bad note is that is forbidden to drink a glass of wine if you dine in the terrace outside...

Posted by: martin sullivan on 08 Jul ' 10 at 18:00

I just wanted to say how poorly I thought the review of Rococo was written.