The food was a mixed bag, my starter of fresh Burrata (like mozzarella but so very much nicer) had just been imported from Italy that day. It was stunning, served with tomatoes and basil. My dining partners had mixed success. The duck with roasted figs was nearing perfection. However the Venetian style beef Carpaccio was not quite such a hit, being smothered in a dressing and cut slightly on the thick side. 

Moving on to the main course, again I had the special of the day, a very simple dish, when served correctly sublime, and in this case I can say my white tagliatelle with fresh porcini was exactly that. The lamb cutlets with almond crust were perfectly pink and went very well with mash potatoes, broccoli and carrots. The clean plate spoke for that diner’s happy experience. My other dining partner was more than satisfied with the perfectly cooked beef tenderloin, again with mash and vegetables. All this accompanied by a pleasant bottle of house wine.

 

In the interests of doing justice to both Carnevale and the reader, we felt obliged to try the deserts, although in truth the portion sizes before had been very generous of size. Still never one to shy away from a desert we shared two different puddings. The first was a classic lemon tart served beautifully with a tangy zesty coulis and homemade ice cream. Our other inspired choice was a towering slice of cassata. Both of these choices were presented on huge plates and adorned with all sorts of lovely little extras, like chocolate decorations, fruit and cream making the whole desert experience a pleasure to look in addition to a really enjoyable tasting finish to the meal. 

To sum up, the service was excellent and discrete, the portions were generous, the food was fresh and with a smart twist on all your Italian favourites. Would I go again? Yes of course I would!
 

Carnevale
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
For reservations, call +971 4 406 8999.