Mozzo Centrale - Neighbourhood Eatery in Jumeirah

Whenever I think of Italian restaurants, two things always come to mind. One having an elegant and chic ambience and most of the time intimidating too, and another having that traditional old school Italian vibe with mostly bricks and wooden fixtures.

Mozzo Centrale is a mixture of both worlds. It has that chic yet laid-back and homey ambience coupled with contemporary industrial vibe, which is very evident even in their al fresco dining area.

For a weekend lunch, the place wasn't too crowded at all. I loved the long communal dining table with hanging bulbs and books as centerpieces. Perfect for family gatherings or chilling with friends.

They also have this platform area with comfy couches for when you want to relax and read while having breakfast and coffee, and comfy table setting for when you want to enjoy some good 'ol lunch or get cracking away on your laptop. Perfect for work or business meetings or just pure catching up with friends.

We were handed with the menu and a tablet with pictures of the dishes as soon as we settled on our table. The menu was pretty comprehensive with a number of selections. Mary, the wait staff who took care of us, was also eager in suggesting their specialties.

We were served with bread sticks and olive paste which we enjoyed munching while waiting for our orders.

Mark browsed through the menu and immediately knew what to have. He went for the breakfast offerings which are served daily from 7am to 1pm. He opted for some french toast which Mozzo fondly calls OMG! loaded stuffy. It came in a huge plate of cinnamon brioche stuffed with mascarpone, topped with fresh bananas and strawberries, with vermont maple syrup and confectioner's sugar drizzles.

OMG! loaded stuffy - AED 42

The dish looked too sweet but I was surprised how this one just had the right amount of sweetness. The fruits gave a contrast in texture with the creamy mascarpone and tender toasts. The cinnamon and maple syrup tastes went well with the fresh fruits. If not for the bread being a bit too rich and thick for our liking, I would have given this french toast a perfect 10.

I always have a thing for Bruschetta so I made sure to get one when I saw it on the menu. And I am so glad that Mozzo Centrale's version didn't disappoint. Mark only had one piece so I had the rest all to myself. Haha! That perfectly grilled bread with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, topped with mildly sweet and tangy ripened tomatoes, fresh basil and oregano, and fresh arugula...ahh...I can have this all day! :D

Bruschetta - AED 30

Mark seemed to have been lulled by the french toast that he couldn't choose any other food from the menu. So there, I was left all confused with what to have. I played safe and ordered pizza and pasta.

For the pizza I chose Quattro stagioni. The wood-fired oven thin crust with fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella, was topped with turkey ham, olives, mushrooms, and artichokes. Among the four flavors, Mark and I both agreed that the turkey ham and artichoke were our top picks.

Quattro stagioni - AED 54

I knew how Mark loves lasagna and it also had that "Our Specialty!" label in the menu, so this is what I got for our pasta. The aroma of the pasta immediately got us drooling when the Lasagne al forno was served.

The dish was such an eye candy especially with that vibrant color from the tomatoes and parsley. If you are accustomed to the Filipino pasta taste, which is on the sweet side, you'll find this dish lacking in flavor, just like what Mark thought. I on the other hand loved this dish. The homemade lasagna was cooked al dente and had generous layers of ground beef, bechamel sauce, and parmesan cheese. It was also freshly baked in their wood-fired oven which added that smokey taste.

Lasagne al forno - AED 59

For our drinks, Mark had fresh orange juice while I went for the strawberry passion fruit mojito mocktail. Both were equally refreshing but I enjoyed sipping my cup of mojito more.

If there's one thing that would keep us coming back to Mozzo, it's the freshness of the food. Even Mark, who has little knowledge when it comes to food ingredients, noticed how fresh all the ingredients were making the dishes more delectable.

Aside from pizzas and pastas, they also have a wide range of choices for salads, hand-helds, and mains. Mozzo serves Mediterranean and International cuisine during the day and in the evenings, but their dinner menu is focused on Italian dishes only.

On weekends and official holidays, they have the All Day Breakfast where breakfast menu is served till 6pm. They also have the Seasonal Fondue Night, a choice of cheese, beef tenderloin or chicken fondue from AED 120-140, served daily at dinner time 6:00pm to 11:00pm.

For updates about Mozzo Centrale you can visit and like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MozzoCentrale, or follow them on Twitter: @MozzoCentrale or Instagram: @mozzocentrale. You can also visit their website at www.mozzocentrale.com.

MOZZO CENTRALE

Umm Al Sheif Street
Umm Suqeim, Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971 (0)4 3948081
Reservations email – info@mozzocentrale.ae

We were guests at Mozzo Centrale and our meal was complimentary, but as always, this post is sincerely written and all views and opinions are my own.