Italian at JBR {Cucina Mia}

Last weekend I took a quick day trip to Dubai to check out a few new restaurants AND to take in some of the fun.  As compared to Abu Dhabi, Dubai has SO many more great place to walk around OUTSIDE! (One of my favorite things to do.) One of these great spots is The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residences, or, better known as, JBR.  It is a strip of restaurants and eateries just off the beach behind Dubai's Marina Mall.   Parking is expensive and the traffic can get awful on weekend evenings, but some places do validate for a few hours of parking, and there is a Metro stop very close by. There are great sidewalks and there is even a really nice promenade on the Marina, all worth checking out before the weather heats up again

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Way down at the end of JBR, just across from Le Royal Meridien, is a little Italian restaurant called Cucina Mia.  It can be easily overlooked since most people are attracted to the center of the strip and don't even walk down that far!  However, if you really enjoy Italian food, this place should not be missed.  As you walk up to the large outdoor seating area, it is hard to know what to expect.  The restaurant is hidden, tucked inside the building, while most of its dining area outdoors. The atmosphere is a little lacking, so it is understandable that in the heat of the summer months,  most of the business turns to take away.  

We sit down at a nicely shaded table and start with the Octopus and Potato Salad.  I take one bite and I am already impressed.  The tender potatoes are doused in warm olive oil and gently covered with delicate slices of perfectly grilled Octopus.  It is very authentically Italian.  Next arrives our Gnocchi in Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce.  The gnocchi were perfect pillows, blanketed in chunks of creamy smoked salmon,  I usually avoid cream sauce, afraid that the richness will leave me over full and uncomfortable.   No need to worry here, it was just the right amount of richness and lightness to be satisfying.

Cucina Mia also does a huge pizza business, with all of the best Italian toppings and even an option for a whole wheat crust. I only tried the Tonno (tuna): Tuna, tomato sauce, onions, and buffalo mozzarella.  The crust was thin and chewy in true Italian fashion. It was delicious and I would definitely order it again. We ordered the Insalata con Formaggio to go along with all the carbs, and it was the perfect match. The super fresh lettuce and complementing cheeses were refreshing and light.

Saving room for dessert is not even a question.  They specialize in Tiramisu and Profiteroles.  While I was not able to get to the Profiteroles, I can absolutely vouch for the Tiramisu. Fluffy, filled with strong coffee flavor and just plain addicting. Also, Pistachio and Hazelnut gelatos, while not made on-site were also a very refreshing creamy treat.  

Cucina Mia Ristorante

JBR

04 4259696
Open daily