Limonata Review: The Italian restaurant is bursting with colour and charm

Soak up the sun, sea, skyline and Sicilian-inspired food. 

The night is buzzing. Families, friends and even pets have descended upon a new restaurant. Located in Club Vista Mare on Palm Jumeirah, the space is cool, chilled and colourful. The concept is bursting with lemons across the design, dishes and drinks – and, of course, the name. Welcome to Limonata by Lucia’s.

Limonata is the sister restaurant to the FACT Award-winning Lucia’s at Address Sky View. Drawing inspiration from Italy, the décor is reminiscent of 1960s Amalfi Coast beach clubs. The bright and beautiful space boasts indoor and outdoor seating across the terrace and beach. Seating options range from sofas to sunbeds – and even child-sized ones.

Sit outside and soak up the sun, sea, sand and spectacular skyline. The features range from a yellow neon logo, cushions and towels, to orange sofas, umbrellas and walls. Packed with personality and playfulness, the plates even read “ciao bella”. As the sun sets, the twinkling fairy lights are turned on, and a singer belts out jazz songs.

Limonata by Lucia’s showcases Italian dishes with Sicilian influences. The menu spans nibbles, salads, starters, acai bowls, poke bowls, pasta, risotto, mains, pizzas, calzone, panozzi and desserts. With so much on offer, it can be overwhelming, although the knowledgeable staff are happy to help.

The Insalata Limonata with blood orange segments, cherry tomatoes, peaches and pumpkin seeds is full of flavours. The Parmigiana Di Melanzane is a dazzling dish, and has us scooping up the sauces. Sweet and silky, it combines aubergine, buffalo mozzarella and parmesan. 

Everything tastes fresh, from the salads to sauces. The pasta is made in-house and ranges from the signature Tagliatelle Le Limone to bestselling Linguine Ai Frutti di Mare. The Branzino Al Forno with sea bass and grilled vegetables is prepared tableside, and tastes like it has been caught that day. 

While it’s tempting to give into a Tiramisu on the menu, don’t dismiss other decadent desserts. The Frittelle Alla Nutella sees small doughnuts filled with Nutella, and the Tortio Al Cioccolato is a desert lover’s dream, as it combines warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream. 

Limonata’s drinks spans signature cocktails, beer, wines, spirits and soft drinks. Each drink has an Italian-inspired name, from Bella Notte to La Dolce Vita. The Amore Fragola impresses with grapefruit, mezcal and strawberry, and has a fiery finish. Plus, we are pleased to see non-alcoholic cocktails, which are also creative concoctions. 

The charm at Limonata comes from its accessibility. Visitors could come for the beach, food or drinks, and feel like they tried something new each time. As it doesn’t break the bank balance – pastas start from AED 65, and drinks start from AED 50 – you can see why it’s buzzing. 

When life gives you lemons, head to Limonata.

GO: Visit www.limonatadubai.com for more information.