Restaurant Review: Italian cuisine at Chic Nonna

Mine Lifestyle Managing by Mine & Yours Group, the leading Italian hospitality company in Dubai, announces the much-awaited opening of Chic Nonna, an all-new Italian concept located in the heart of DIFC. Comprising of a restaurant, bar and lounge, featuring a state-of-the-art open-plan kitchen, Chef’s table and what is known to be the largest wine cellar in the region, Chic Nonna is set to be more than just a charming Italian restaurant.

The culinary team has designed the menu to strike a harmonious balance between Italian culinary tradition and innovation. While continuously paying homage to much-loved Italian flavours, guests can begin their journey at Chic Nonna with the Vitelo Tonnata; milk fed veal cooked slowly to perfection, sliced on a plate and topped with a homemade tonnata sauce (mayo and confit tuna blended together). The dish is completed with soft boiled quail eggs, roasted bell peppers and an anchovy and caper dressing, and garnished with dill and oregano. For mains, guests can choose to indulge in the Stuffed Quail; quail stuffed with chicken liver paté, slow cooked and roasted to perfection, served on a bed of creamy mashed potato, sautéed asparagus and quail jus, finished with black truffle shavings, or the Roasted Veal Shank; a slow roasted veal shank glazed with a luscious veal jus and fresh chives.

 

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Pasta lovers must try the Cavatelli Cacio e Pepe; a signature dish of Chef Vito. This is made with homemade cavatelli pasta, sautéed in a pecorino cheese and black pepper sauce, topped with marinated Mazara red prawns and poached needle squid. Another quintessential must-have is the Plin Ravioli al Tovagliolo; delicate homemade ravioli filled with braised duck which are carefully pinched close (“plin” means “pinched” in local Piedmont dialect). Once cooked, the ravioli are served inside a folded linen napkin (tavagliolo) with a side of a sage, butter and duck jus.

Ending on an indulgently sweet note is a carefully curated dessert menu that features some of Italy’s most loved “dolci” such as the Torta della Nonna; a warm short tart filled with a decadent custard, caramelized pine nuts and zesty lemon compote, topped with homemade vanilla ice cream and candied lemons, or the Baba’, a delicious cake infused with a citrus and vanilla syrup topped with mixed berries and a vanilla Chantilly cream.

For an immersive dining experience, the venue offers an exclusive range of grape, including premium Italian and international brands, which are housed in a stunning above-ground wine cellar display capable of storing over 4,000 bottles with 900 labels. Under the expert guidance of Chic Nonna’s wine director, guests will also be able to store their own wine collections in personalised drawers that can be enjoyed every time they visit.

Accompanying the largest wine cellar in the city is a separate Cigar Lounge, a secluded but intimate room that will serve as a socialising space for guests looking to unwind during their visits and after dinner. Located on the top floor, the Cigar Lounge has been designed to resemble an Italian living room with a decorative, faux-fireplace and large window offering stunning views of Burj Khalifa. Amidst the modern art deco setting, a Cigar Sommelier guides guests on bespoke cigar, cognac, and whiskey pairings from across the world.

 

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The upstairs main living space has floor to ceiling windows overlooking Burj Khalifa and features a terrace with relaxed, outdoor seating. A “Crudo Bar” offers a sophisticated lounge menu serving a selection of the freshest, raw fish and seafood with sushi-grade fresh tuna tartar, pristine oysters, European blue lobster and Italian Calvisius caviar. The interior décor features the finest artisan Italian leather couches and armchairs, and striking DJ booth. An elegant long bar with signature-green bar stools masks a hidden, raised stage that will come alive at night with live entertainment to create a decadent ambiance.

With impressive views of Burj Khalifa and the iconic Downtown Dubai, Chic Nonna welcomes you to an immersive dining experience filled with discovery and more. Whether you’re savouring traditional Italian flavors innovatively brought to life by Michelin-starred Chef Vito Mollica, tasting your way through an expansive wine cellar or appreciating the engaging live entertainment, Chic Nonna is the place to be.