Urbano

Charming rustic Italian food at the Souk Al Bahar 26 Reviews

1

© ITP Images

 

• 
• Picture 1 of 2
• 

From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

A large poster bearing a ruddy-faced Italian family graces the entrance of Urbano. The image gives you an immediate sense of old-world charm and the kind of outstanding-yet-homely fare in Tuscany.

And it continues inside: the staff have the laidback, schmoozy Italian charm (even if most of them are Indonesian, and the menu is written in Italian. Alas, the fantasy ends at the food. The lasagne consists of limp sheets of pasta and a dull béchamel sauce; branzino cooked in parchment paper is satisfying, but is a paint-by-numbers kind of dish – throw some fish into a packet with some pesto and cook for 20 minutes, and you’re bound to come out with something edible.

The desserts are tasty, but not better than anywhere else’s. Urbano’s food is not bad, but it’s a bit dull. This is unfortunate, because while food from the booted country may be rustic and simple, it is anything but boring.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 19 March 2009

• Previous reviews
  • 05 January,2009- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

• Share | |
• E-mail:
• 
• Print:
• 

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

Posted by: Samer on 22 Aug ' 09 at 17:34

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I want to thanks urbano staff for a lovely experience.

Posted by: maria on 21 Aug ' 09 at 16:45

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Went back but where are the italians chefs?is not anymore the Urbano i knew,they lost the real taste

Posted by: Sarah on 13 Jul ' 09 at 12:17

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Went because of the location and because of some of the reviews on here. While the restaurant itself is lovely to look at, the food, service and prices were just terrible.

I normally use the readers reviews on timeoutdubai.com to help choose which restaurant to go to, but obviously a few people here have had a very different experience to the bland, slow and expensive service we recieved.

Posted by: Luca on 02 Jul ' 09 at 15:31

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Nice Restaurant! Is the unique in Dubai (and I think also in the Middle East) with 4/5 italian nationality.

I'm italian and belive me, if you want to try the really and authentic "Italian" food you must be in Italy!

Posted by: Alice on 01 Jul ' 09 at 15:47

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Simple but good italian cuisine.
I really like Urbano.

Posted by: Mary on 21 Jun ' 09 at 13:22

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: Ian Glover on 18 Jun ' 09 at 07:17

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

The fountains make this restaurant.
The staff are friendly but need to up the speed a little. we had a family of four and it costs us 280 dirhams which is the best value we have had in Dubai on opur holiday. The pizza was great.

Posted by: Mark on 13 Jun ' 09 at 08:42

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Thank goodness for Carluccio's. What has happened to Urbano in the last 2 months, i use to eat there at least 3 times a week now i would never go back. Bad food, bad service and a don't care attitude. It is a real shame to see a restaurant that had such potential go down hill so rapidly. Lets hope they can rekindle the passion for food and service.

Posted by: Tarek on 01 Jun ' 09 at 06:46

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

It's 1 of the best italian restaurants I was in dubai .....I love the view on the fountain and enjoy my food to the same time.....just amazing.....the staff members are also amazing .....especially the runners....they are doing a very good job ....without them, things wont work so fluently.....
I can highly recommend to visit Urbano.....

Posted by: sid on 23 Apr ' 09 at 07:51

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Posted by: Luca on 08 Apr ' 09 at 13:54

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Nice, nice restaurant! Really Italian "simple" authentic cousine. Very friendly both Italian Chef

Posted by: anthony on 30 Mar ' 09 at 12:48

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

it s amazing seeing italian people in the floor, the two italian boys are amazing, thanks for the wonderful experience

Posted by: David on 15 Feb ' 09 at 13:41

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I have been there more then 10 times in the short time i have been in Dubai ,the service gets better all the time,sometimes the food drops in standard slightly, they have the best coffee in town,but they must have lost their original barista,as the machiato and strong latte are not the same anymore"bring him back please "
overall the restaurant is hard to beat as long as they keep up the service and at good value,shortly the place will be hard to get into without a booking , specially if you want outside tables
it has become my second home

Posted by: Mehmet Geveci on 09 Jan ' 09 at 14:26

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Posted by: frank scheunert on 09 Jan ' 09 at 13:48

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

excellent quality like in italy i go there 3 times a week

Posted by: Nick on 09 Jan ' 09 at 08:25

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

So there seems to a lot of contradicting comments on Urbano some seem to love it others seem to dislike it.

I think you need to understand what they are trying to achieve. You would not go to McDonalds for three star Michelin food nor would you go to three star restauarnts if you just wanted a pizza.

What Urbano does well it does well; mediumly priced, simply food in a friendly atmosphere with a great location and even better terrace.

Yes maybe you can critise elements of the food and the service, but when i last checked Dubai is not in Tuscany so sourcing 'non dull' product in season (does Dubai have seasons as all food is imported??) is difficult at best and if that what was they were trying to achieve then you would be looking at a second job just to support your food habits...

In summary as somebody who lives in the local area it does what it sets out to do very reasonable and yes sometimes its not quite as good as other times but on the whole its a good package.

You read lots of great reviews on Time Out to be constantly disappointed by the 'NAME CHEF' brigade ala Atlantis The Palm Hotel which is constantly bad and allways incredibly expensive.

Dubai is difficult at best for a decent meal at an affordable price and this is where Urbano sets itself a great benchmark.

Recommended... See for yourself....

Posted by: Yaghi on 09 Jan ' 09 at 08:10

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

This is an approach to Natalias email. I am the owner of 5 star hotel and have other F&B related companies.
I have been to Urbano 3 times within a week and not a single time either service nor food was nothing but exceptional!!!!
The menu selection is very nice and the descriptions are accurate. They waiter are always happy to offer you some specials.
So if Natalia might have difficulties to read the menu, I would recommend a fast food retaurant, where you have pictues on the wall and you choose from them!
Even something is not ok, Management is always around to answer questions.

Posted by: Bella on 08 Jan ' 09 at 15:14

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I have been a few times now and really enjoyed my food and found the staff very friendly and attentive. The pizza is probably the best I have had in Dubai and the chef is really clever with sauces - delish!

Posted by: R.Villanueva Vallanca on 08 Jan ' 09 at 14:33

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

Friendly staff, view is understandable that the area is still under constructions.

Tiramisu was excellent along with the ice cream.

Spaghetti with seafoods is really excellent taste.

Need to have more choices of menu in the main course.

Posted by: Natalia Deans on 08 Jan ' 09 at 05:06

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

My overall experience was extremely disappointing. What a waste of an amazing view! The service standards were appalling, if you look beyond being greeted in Italian (which is nice, but easy) to when you actually have to discuss the menu (a true test) they fall flat on their face. For a waiter to not know which vegetables are on a vegetarian pizza is unacceptable... even worse, to not ask and come back with the right information is downright lazy.

The food is mediocre at best, service substandard, view terrific. You decide what's important to you when dining... service and food to me rank pretty high, which is why I wouldn't not go back. I'm not inclined to pay for a great view and nothing else. Or just have coffee, if you really have to. Hopefully, they won't get that wrong.

Posted by: Ali on 06 Jan ' 09 at 06:52

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

ok then.. the problem is that Dubai is filled with Italian joints and for Urbano to come out on top it has alot of work to do since there are some great Italian restaurants out there. I would say that the food is generally ok but I've had better and the portions are small. The only great thing about this restaurant is the location. The terrace is fantastic and once the construction is over people will visit just to sit outside.

I would say that the size of the restaurant also doesnt do justice to the place. It's too big and when you enter it's always empty except for the terrace. If the restaurant was smaller you would most definitely have a much better ambience and feel to the place.

The service is not great but adequate. I would say there are too many staff in the place and again the size of the place doesnt help.

To sum up Urbano could do well if managed in the right way and there is alot of competition out there!

Posted by: George on 06 Jan ' 09 at 04:58

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

When the construction outside will be finished, the ambience will be fantastic

Posted by: Sara on 06 Jan ' 09 at 04:51

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I don't agree too with time out. i am italian and for me was the 1st time that i really had true italian food! the dishes are not too elaborate and this is what i was expecting, simple but good italian cuisine.
maybe the portions are a bit small, but this is the only negative point of the restaurant. anyway Urbano means Urban in italian, so i am not sure that they want to give they idea of a countryside place, actually i think is the complete opposite, but with an italian touch. that means creating an environment urban but warm, familiar.
the food was excellent, pasta not overcooked, perfect!
i would recommend to go to Urbano to everyone who wants to eat good food and to eat good food in a warm, fresh and pleasant environment!

Posted by: abdul on 05 Jan ' 09 at 15:33

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I really like Urbano. I am emerati and it is the first restaurant with style, good food and great service at the same time.
I felt real welcome there and my business colleagues liked it too

Posted by: jhon on 05 Jan ' 09 at 06:23

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Family friendly

very good fantastic

Posted by: clair on 05 Jan ' 09 at 05:32

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

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

I do not really agree with time out. I love that place. It is great value,real italian food, great personal service and a great athmosphere.
I was there with friends and we had a blast. The terrace, although still surrounded by constructionwork is a hot spot and I am sure, once this fountain is done, this is a place where you have to book at least 2 weeks ahead.
The food was delicious. The pastas finaly al denta, not overcooked, as in any other Italian restaurant in town, the pizzas were great also and not even talk about the deserts!
Anyone, who wants to have good food and service together in a Dubai restaurant should go visit Urbano

Add your review/feedback