Fountain Views
Outdoor seating looks directly towards the Pointe fountain, with views extending towards Atlantis Royal.
Donna Carmela
Palm Jumeirah
Donna Carmela is an Italian restaurant at The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, known in reviews for thin-crust pizza and seafood pasta. Its outdoor tables face the fountain, making dinner as much about the setting as the food.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
163 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Thin Pizza
Several diners liked the authentic thin, bubbly crust, though topping quantities were less consistent.
Seafood Pasta
Vongole, linguine frutti di mare and seafood pasta receive particularly enthusiastic mentions.
Group Friendly
A group of 14 was seated at one long table, with staff helping arrange the chairs.
Licensed Venue
Reviews note that alcoholic drinks are available, including wine and homemade wine.
Family Setting
The restaurant is described as family-friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating and a relaxed atmosphere.
What to Eat at Donna Carmela How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Donna Carmela, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Donna Carmela, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
-
Arancini Net +1
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”March 2022
-
Burrata Net +1
“Beautiful lunch. The burrata just creamy as it should be, calamari nicely fried, the risotto mushroom perfectly cooked .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Beautiful lunch. The burrata just creamy as it should be, calamari nicely fried, the risotto mushroom perfectly cooked .”July 2021
-
Donna carmela pasta Net +1
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”March 2022
-
Fritto misto Net +1
“Absolutely fantastic. Their fritto misto is the best I had in Dubai and the staff is very carefully trained.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Absolutely fantastic. Their fritto misto is the best I had in Dubai and the staff is very carefully trained.”November 2020
-
Linguine fruti de mare Net +1
“I'm almost afraid to give a review because I'd rather keep it for myself ;-) Must try the vongole yummy 🤤 and also the linguine fruti de mare.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I'm almost afraid to give a review because I'd rather keep it for myself ;-) Must try the vongole yummy 🤤 and also the linguine fruti de mare.”April 2023
-
Pizza diavola Net +1
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My top dishes are the Arancini, Pizza Diavola and the Donna Carmela pasta!”March 2022
-
Ravioli scallop Net +1
“- the Ravioli scallop has been removed which I felt was really sad and such a shame as this was a total hit, this is even more disappointing”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“- the Ravioli scallop has been removed which I felt was really sad and such a shame as this was a total hit, this is even more disappointing”October 2021
-
Salame pizza Net +1
“2 stars because the salame pizza was really good but the 4formaggi pizza was an insult.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“2 stars because the salame pizza was really good but the 4formaggi pizza was an insult.”June 2021
-
Tiramisu donna carmela Net +1
“Coming to the dessert, Tiramisu Donna Carmela is a must try. It's just out of this world!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Coming to the dessert, Tiramisu Donna Carmela is a must try. It's just out of this world!”January 2023
-
Vegetatian pizza Net +1
“Truly a scrumptious meal. We had all vegetatian pizza and spaghetti- both equally amaaazing! The taste is authentic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Truly a scrumptious meal. We had all vegetatian pizza and spaghetti- both equally amaaazing! The taste is authentic.”January 2021
Honorable mentions (2)
-
Vongole Net +1
“I'm almost afraid to give a review because I'd rather keep it for myself ;-) Must try the vongole yummy 🤤 and also the linguine fruti de mare.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I'm almost afraid to give a review because I'd rather keep it for myself ;-) Must try the vongole yummy 🤤 and also the linguine fruti de mare.”April 2023
-
Mushroom risotto Net 0
Mixed feedback
“Beautiful lunch. The burrata just creamy as it should be, calamari nicely fried, the risotto mushroom perfectly cooked .”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Beautiful lunch. The burrata just creamy as it should be, calamari nicely fried, the risotto mushroom perfectly cooked .”July 2021
Drinks 1
-
Trebbiano wine terre alegre Net +1
“For drinks they have this beautiful Trebbiano wine called terre alegre which is sooooo delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For drinks they have this beautiful Trebbiano wine called terre alegre which is sooooo delicious.”April 2023
What to Avoid (6)
Food 6
-
Aglio olio pasta Net −1
“The pasta we ordered was very, very salty. We had to return the aglio olio pasta as it had no taste.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The pasta we ordered was very, very salty. We had to return the aglio olio pasta as it had no taste.”May 2021
-
Donna carmela pizza Net −1
“The Donna Carmela pizza is totally not worth the 80 dirhams it costs, including the view etc. It simply has terrible and not Italian buffalo mozzarella and I had an empty dough of pizza with almost anything on it (almost no cherry tomatoes, no rocket leaves, finished due to the closing, etc.).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The Donna Carmela pizza is totally not worth the 80 dirhams it costs, including the view etc. It simply has terrible and not Italian buffalo mozzarella and I had an empty dough of pizza with almost anything on it (almost no cherry tomatoes, no rocket leaves, finished due to the closing, etc.).”May 2023
-
New pannacota Net −1
“- the 'new pannacota' seems a little different than the normal panna cota. I was told by their staff that it's their own recipe, unfortunately, I don't think I can recommend this. Its a failed experiment.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“- the 'new pannacota' seems a little different than the normal panna cota. I was told by their staff that it's their own recipe, unfortunately, I don't think I can recommend this. Its a failed experiment.”October 2021
-
Pasta di pesto Net −1
“Pasta di pesto was bad, pesto was done wrong.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Pasta di pesto was bad, pesto was done wrong.”August 2021
-
Veggie pizza Net −1
“Poor quality, the mushrooms in the mushroom risotto were low quality canned ones, that tasted so bad and the mushrooms on the veggie pizza were also mushy and canned… the whole family had a bad experience the pasta sauces too which tasted sour and even the smoothie tasted funny.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Poor quality, the mushrooms in the mushroom risotto were low quality canned ones, that tasted so bad and the mushrooms on the veggie pizza were also mushy and canned… the whole family had a bad experience the pasta sauces too which tasted sour and even the smoothie tasted funny.”February 2021
-
4Formaggi pizza Net −2
“2 stars because the salame pizza was really good but the 4formaggi pizza was an insult. 4 formaggi for Donna Carmela is mozzarella and an unthinkable paste of 3 cheese (according to the manager). As Italian I feel it was a joke, comparable to pineapple pizza!”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“2 stars because the salame pizza was really good but the 4formaggi pizza was an insult. 4 formaggi for Donna Carmela is mozzarella and an unthinkable paste of 3 cheese (according to the manager). As Italian I feel it was a joke, comparable to pineapple pizza!”June 2021
“Quattro Formaggi pizza, average dough with some strange selection of cheeses. Tasted more like a deep frozen pizza from Carrefour.”August 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose Outdoors. For the fountain show and Atlantis Royal views, request an outdoor table rather than sitting indoors.
Check Availability. Ask what is currently available before ordering; reviews mention missing burrata, scallop ravioli and other menu changes.
Try Seafood. Seafood pasta is one of the safer review-backed picks, with vongole and linguine frutti di mare specifically praised.
Try Tiramisu. Save room for the house tiramisu, which multiple diners identify as a highlight.
Check Charges. Review the bill for service charges before paying, as one diner reported an added Dsh46 fee.
Confirm Location. The latest supplied Pointe review said the restaurant was closing there to reopen in JVC, so confirm the venue before travelling.
Plan the visit
Practical details
The Pointe
The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent Quality
Reviews range from excellent meals to complaints about salty pasta, canned mushrooms and sour sauces.
Sparse Toppings
One pizza review found the crust good but the toppings too scant for the price.
Service Charge
A diner reported a mandatory Dsh46 service charge added to a Dsh587.99 bill without clear menu disclosure.
Menu Changes
Some returning diners were disappointed when burrata and scallop ravioli were unavailable or removed, while a new panna cotta missed the mark.
Delivery Delay
One online order took two hours despite the customer living 15 minutes from The Pointe.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
80 dirhams
Donna Carmela pizza
“The Donna Carmela pizza is totally not worth the 80 dirhams it costs, including the view etc”Google review · May 2023
34 dirhams
huge calzone
“Great prices! 49 for an authentic pizza with 2 pages of choices and a huge calzone for 34 dirhams”Google review · October 2020
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Donna Carmela is an Italian restaurant at The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, where the main draw is a meal with the musical fountain outside. Reviews point to thin-crust pizza, seafood pasta and a notably popular tiramisu. Outdoor tables give the strongest fountain view, while the indoor room is described as cosy and Italian in feel.
The menu has produced both excellent and disappointing experiences. Vongole, linguine frutti di mare, seafood pasta and mushroom risotto all receive praise in individual reviews, and Pizza Diavola, arancini and Tiramisu Donna Carmela are among the named favourites. Pizza prices were reported at 49 dirhams for an authentic pizza and 34 dirhams for a large calzone in an early review, although another diner considered an 80-dirham Donna Carmela pizza poor value.
Service is often described as friendly and accommodating, including for a party of 14, but other diners reported distracted staff, badly timed courses and a two-hour delivery wait. Menu availability and recipes have changed, so it is worth checking before ordering. Also inspect the bill: one review reported a Dsh46 mandatory service charge.
Most importantly, the latest supplied Pointe review said the restaurant was closing there to reopen in JVC; confirm the current location before setting out.