Rocambolesco is Dubai’s newest Italian restaurant with a Michelin-starred chef behind the menu

If you keep a running list of new restaurants in Dubai, add this one. Rocambolesco is now open at SO/ Uptown Dubai, serving Italian classics that don’t always arrive as expected. Executive Chef Alessandro Mirabelli leads the kitchen, with Michelin-starred Chef Luigi Stinga supporting with culinary direction. Rocambolesco has two floors, each with a different mood. Downstairs is bright, relaxed and filled with art, with a family-friendly dining room made for lunch, aperitivo and sharing plates. Upstairs, a more intimate Piano Room will bring live music and entertainment into the mix, with its full opening expected in the coming weeks. Executive Chef Alessandro Mirabelli leads the kitchen, working alongside Michelin-starred chef Luigi Stinga as Culinary Consultant. The menu starts with Italian tradition and gets creative from there. The Rocambolesco Parmigiana pairs baked aubergine with scamorza fondue, while C’era Una Volta is a beetroot and gorgonzola pizza. Heritage Meatballs come slow-cooked in tomato sauce with pecorino fondue and a charcoal finish at the table. The drinks follow the same playful thinking, taking familiar Italian drinking rituals in a more creative direction. There’s also a Dhs85 sharing business lunch or a Dhs60 pizza with a small side salad if you’re coming during the week, while a happy hour and brunch are on the way. The name comes from Rocambole, a daring, imaginative literary character. It’s a fitting reference for a restaurant that starts somewhere familiar, then likes to take the story somewhere less expected. Where: Rocambolesco, Lobby Level, SO/ Uptown Hotel When: Monday to Thursday 12 AM – 12 PM, Friday to Saturday 12 AM – 1 AM. Closed on Sundays Cost: Business lunch Dhs85 per person; pizza with a small side salad Dhs60