Isabella Cucina Italiana

Name: Isabella Cucina Italiana
Address: Vida Hills Hotel - Shop 19 Al Naseem St, Barsha Heights, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +97143237347

Barsha Heights

Restaurant Closed 04 323 7347

Isabella Cucina Italiana is a warmly styled Italian restaurant in Barsha Heights, with a menu that includes pizza, handmade pasta and Italian drinks. Reviews particularly point to the pizza, burrata and mushroom risotto, while the Sunday brunch brings a livelier, music-filled experience.

Reputation Score

4.7

★★★★★

296 ratings

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The Good Stuff

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Italian cooking

Reviews praise authentic Italian flavours, including al dente spaghetti, Napoli-style pizza and carefully prepared pasta.

Excellent pizza

The pizza dough earns repeated praise, with the truffle pizza and diavola standing out in separate visits.

Let's go!

What to Eat at Isabella Cucina Italiana

Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Isabella Cucina Italiana, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.

Food 3

Bruschetta Net +4

“Bruschetta is the best i ever had, period.”
Pizza Net +4

“Very good pizza but we were disappointed by the smell of cigarette downstairs. We came with our son and did not stay long because of that.”
Spaghetti aglio e olio e gamberi Net +2

“My friends enjoyed their Cannelloni alla bolognese and Spaghetti Aglio E Olio E Gamberi, both cooked perfectly.”

Honorable mentions (43)

Arrancini Net +1

“Food was delicious; we had the arrancini and bruschetta as starters.”
Astice spaghetti Net +1

“Astice spaghetti is a must try , while the risotto was normal.”
Beetroot, avocado & quinoa salad Net +1

“We had an excellent dinner at Isabella. The starters set the tone: calamari & prawns fritto, mushroom arancini, beetroot, avocado & quinoa salad, and bruschetta! Each dish was unique and delicious in its own way, and you can taste the high-quality ingredients.”
Bread and tapenade Net +1

“From the complimentary bread and tapenade to appetizers, mains, desserts and cocktails everything was fresh, flavorful and fantastic.”
Breads Net +1

“Love their breads, which they serve with olives and sun dried tomatoes oily pesto, zucchini flowers stuffed with shrimps (their limited period festive menu), pizzas are good so are the pastas.”
Burrata Net +1

“We truly enjoyed the amazing food , from the amazing starters of fritto misto , one of best bruchtta , tasty burrata and calamari was excellent.”
Burrata and tomato salad Net +1

“I started with the burrata and tomato salad—the freshness of the tomatoes paired with the creamy cheese was a perfect start to the meal.”
Burrata e datterini Net +1

“We started with the Burrata e datterini, a simple yet delicious appetiser.”
Calamari Net +1

“We truly enjoyed the amazing food , from the amazing starters of fritto misto , one of best bruchtta , tasty burrata and calamari was excellent.”
Calamari & prawns fritto Net +1

“We had an excellent dinner at Isabella. The starters set the tone: calamari & prawns fritto, mushroom arancini, beetroot, avocado & quinoa salad, and bruschetta! Each dish was unique and delicious in its own way, and you can taste the high-quality ingredients.”
Cannelloni alla bolognese Net +1

“My friends enjoyed their Cannelloni alla bolognese and Spaghetti Aglio E Olio E Gamberi, both cooked perfectly.”
Cappellacci funghi e porri Net +1

“I had the Cappellacci funghi e porri. It was rich, creamy, and full of flavour.”
Carrot soup Net +1

“Delicious Italian food at Isabella Cucina Italiana! Must-try carrot soup, lamb chops, and seabass. Warm atmosphere and authentic flavors. Highly recommend! 👍”
Cheese cake Net +1

“And the show stopper being their cheese cake, perfectly moist, and a drizzle of olive oil, orange zest, and a little salt just enhances the taste. I loved it.”
Diavola Net +1

“We ordered a pizza for trial and was impressed by the amazing dough taste and fillings , super yummi diavola.”
Freshly baked bread Net +1

“The food was outstanding. I loved the starters, the freshly baked bread was delicious, and the pasta was absolutely amazing. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor.”
Fried eggplant Net +1

“The fried eggplant for me was a definite highlight.”
Fritto misto Net +1

“We truly enjoyed the amazing food , from the amazing starters of fritto misto , one of best bruchtta , tasty burrata and calamari was excellent.”
Granchio Net +1

“From the delightful Granchio(Crab with marinated Avocado) to the classic Penne all’arabita, every dish is a masterpiece.”
Grilled vegetable salad Net +1

“I also had the grilled vegetable salad, it was very good as well.”
Isabella rosette Net +1

“The Isabella Rosette was a highlight, offering a bright, lemony flavor that felt light yet flavorful.”
Lamb chops Net +1

“Delicious Italian food at Isabella Cucina Italiana! Must-try carrot soup, lamb chops, and seabass. Warm atmosphere and authentic flavors. Highly recommend! 👍”
Mushroom arancini Net +1

“We had an excellent dinner at Isabella. The starters set the tone: calamari & prawns fritto, mushroom arancini, beetroot, avocado & quinoa salad, and bruschetta! Each dish was unique and delicious in its own way, and you can taste the high-quality ingredients.”
Mushroom risotto Net +1

“The mushroom risotto was just as impressive—creamy, rich, and incredibly satisfying.”
Orata alla griglia Net +1

“Amira’s Margarita pizza stole our hearts, and the Orata alla griglia(grilled seabream) was simply divine!”
Pan-seared seabass Net +1

“For the main, we shared a pan-seared seabass with baby carrots, perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned.”
Patate novelle con pesto Net +1

“Don’t miss the Piccata di pollo(Chicken) with caper lemon sauce, paired with patate novelle con pesto(Baby potatoes with pesto) for the perfect sides.”
Penne all’arabita Net +1

“From the delightful Granchio(Crab with marinated Avocado) to the classic Penne all’arabita, every dish is a masterpiece.”
Piccata di pollo Net +1

“Don’t miss the Piccata di pollo(Chicken) with caper lemon sauce, paired with patate novelle con pesto(Baby potatoes with pesto) for the perfect sides.”
Prawn spaghetti Net +1

“For the main dish I had the prawn spaghetti, which was excellent—full of flavor but surprisingly light and not heavy like pasta can sometimes be.”
Ravioli Net +1

“Never had ravioli that tasted so good! Definitely recommend.”
Risotto with burrata Net +1

“The risotto with burrata was absolutely delicious, and the location added a charming touch.”
Seabass Net +1

“Delicious Italian food at Isabella Cucina Italiana! Must-try carrot soup, lamb chops, and seabass. Warm atmosphere and authentic flavors. Highly recommend! 👍”
Spaguetti Net +1

“The spaguetti was cooked aldente to perfection and the sauce tasted amazing.”
Steaks Net +1

“One of the most delicious steaks I’ve ever had in my life is from this restaurant, and ever since I discovered this place, steaks at other restaurants no longer appeal to me.”
The wagyu beef Net +1

“Lamb chops and the wagyu beef were exceptional.”
Tiramisu Net +1

“And the grand finale? The best tiramisu ever with a side of black tea and cappuccino.”
Truffle pasta Net +1

“It's a beautiful restaurant with the best truffle pasta I've ever had.”
Truffle pizza Net +1

“Best truffle pizza I’ve ever had. The atmosphere is lovely perfect for romantic dinners”
Veal milanese Net +1

“The veal Milanese is large enough to feed 3 at least and was excellent.”
Veal scallopini with lemon caper sauce Net +1

“Then we opted for Veal Scallopini with lemon caper sauce which was delicious and we had the signatute aglio olio to share.”
Zucchini flowers stuffed with shrimps Net +1

“Love their breads, which they serve with olives and sun dried tomatoes oily pesto, zucchini flowers stuffed with shrimps (their limited period festive menu), pizzas are good so are the pastas.”
Octopus Net 0

Only neutral feedback

“The octopus that followed was just okay, but the side dish it came with was very good.”

Drinks 1

Amira’s margarita pizza Net +1

“Amira’s Margarita pizza stole our hearts, and the Orata alla griglia(grilled seabream) was simply divine!”

Tips for a Better Visit

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Book ahead. Reserve before visiting, particularly for dinner or busy brunch periods, as one review specifically advises booking in advance.

Plan parking. Allow extra time to find parking rather than arriving at the last minute.

Plan the visit

Practical details

Vida Hills Hotel - Shop 19 Al Naseem St

Al Thanyah Third, Dubai

04 323 7347

Mon	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Tue	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Wed	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Thu	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Fri	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Sat	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Sun	12:00 PM – 1:00 AM

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Common Concerns

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Smoke drift

Cigarette smoke from the upstairs smoking level has drifted downstairs, which was especially uncomfortable for one family with a child.

Seating issue

One diner with a reservation was directed to an exposed middle table and felt pressured by repeated checks about finishing.

DXB
LOCAL

The Bottom Line

Isabella Cucina Italiana is an Italian restaurant in Barsha Heights worth considering for a relaxed dinner, date night or a longer Sunday brunch. The menu has plenty of review-backed favourites: pizza, burrata with tomatoes, mushroom risotto and pasta. One guest compared the spaghetti, risotto and pizza favourably with food in Italy, while another called the truffle pizza their best ever.

The room is a major part of the experience. Reviews describe dim lighting, polished interiors and a warm setting, with indoor and outdoor seating. Sunday brunch is more energetic, with guests spending three hours over the menu while musicians played Italian songs.

Cocktails and wines also receive strong feedback, including helpful by-the-glass pairing advice. Service is usually a clear strength: diners mention attentive, friendly staff, chef check-ins and thoughtful birthday or celebration touches. There are a few practical cautions.

Parking can be difficult, so allow time and book ahead. The upstairs level is designated for smoking, and smoke has occasionally drifted downstairs; ask about seating if that would bother you or if you are dining with children. One reservation experience also involved uncomfortable table pressure, though other reviews describe the service as consistently professional.