Vegetarian Range
A fully vegetarian menu gives diners plenty of Italian choices, including vegan and gluten-free options.
Little Italy Restaurant Dubai
Al Karama
Little Italy is a fully vegetarian Italian restaurant in Al Karama, with a broad menu that includes vegan and gluten-free choices. Reviews particularly point to the pink pasta, Aglio e Olio, ravioli and sourdough pizzas, while the comfortable setting also suits family meals and celebrations.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
798 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Pasta Favourites
Aglio e Olio and ravioli were described as consistently outstanding and perfectly cooked by a repeat visitor.
Dietary Help
A reviewer said the restaurant prepared dishes in advance and supported a guest following a strict gluten diet.
Sourdough Pizza
Pure-vegetarian diners specifically praised the sourdough pizzas alongside the pasta.
Custom Dishes
The kitchen has accommodated off-menu requests, including an avocado toast prepared for a pregnant guest.
Comfortable Setting
Reviews describe the dining room as cozy, inviting and suitable for family occasions.
What to Eat at Little Italy Restaurant Dubai 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 Little Italy Restaurant Dubai, 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.
These items at Little Italy Restaurant Dubai got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 6
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Garlic masala bread Net +4
“I went for dinner at little Italy and I liked the food specially one of my favourite garlic masala bread.”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I went for dinner at little Italy and I liked the food specially one of my favourite garlic masala bread.”May 2025
“We’ve tried their Lasagne, Masala garlic bread, Penne pasta with veggies, risotto and a pizza with yellow base. Loved every dish except the pizza base became a bit stretchy while the taste was good.”January 2024
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Tiramisu Net +3
“Their tiramisu and mojitos are absolutely amazing too.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their tiramisu and mojitos are absolutely amazing too.”March 2026
“I tried their best selling pasta and it was so delicious, and the tiramisu was unique and tasty.”March 2021
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Aglio e olio pasta Net +2
“I mostly go there for their Aglio e Olio pasta and ravioli — both are absolutely outstanding, full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and easily among the best in town. Every time I order these two, they never disappoint.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I mostly go there for their Aglio e Olio pasta and ravioli — both are absolutely outstanding, full of flavor, perfectly cooked, and easily among the best in town. Every time I order these two, they never disappoint.”October 2025
“For mains we had , pasta named aglio olio which was a very simple and classic pasta with olive oil , chilli flakes and garlic . Was expecting to be more saucy but anyway flavor was nice”October 2019
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Blueberry cheesecake Net +2
“The blueberry cheesecake is amazing.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The blueberry cheesecake is amazing.”January 2022
“We enjoyed the blueberry cheesecake, it's my mom's favourite.”April 2024
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Pizza napoli Net +2
“Today we ordered pizza Manila, pizza Napoli, primavera, pasta barbaresca and special Tacos. To my surprise food was super delicious. Primavera pasta was heaven tasting. Pizza Napoli was super spicy for my palette but tasted good.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Today we ordered pizza Manila, pizza Napoli, primavera, pasta barbaresca and special Tacos. To my surprise food was super delicious. Primavera pasta was heaven tasting. Pizza Napoli was super spicy for my palette but tasted good.”March 2023
“Pizza Napoli 🍕: thick pan pizza with lots of toppings.... onion, mushrooms, sun dried tomato ..... It was jus yummmm ... must try it.”February 2021
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Spinaci salsa Net +2
“Antipasti/starters : we opted for spinaci salsa, that’s a thick creamy spinach dip served with crispy toasts, the dip indeed has a very rich creamy taste, and the other we tried was ravioli crocante which is fried ravioli stuffed with roasted peppers and cheese it was our first time trying this and we both loved it.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Antipasti/starters : we opted for spinaci salsa, that’s a thick creamy spinach dip served with crispy toasts, the dip indeed has a very rich creamy taste, and the other we tried was ravioli crocante which is fried ravioli stuffed with roasted peppers and cheese it was our first time trying this and we both loved it.”February 2021
“Spinaci salsa, that’s a creamy spinach dip served with thin crispy toasts, This hot spinach dip is a blend of spinach, cheese, cream and seasonings, n all mixed together and the other we had”February 2021
Drinks 1
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Mango passionfruit mojito Net +2
“Excellent ambience and their menu has a variety of dishes. The best part is that it's vegetarian! Their staff is very friendly and accommodating. Loved their mango passionfruit mojito.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Excellent ambience and their menu has a variety of dishes. The best part is that it's vegetarian! Their staff is very friendly and accommodating. Loved their mango passionfruit mojito.”September 2022
Tips for a Better Visit
Avoid Sundays. One reviewer specifically advised avoiding Sunday after having a poor pasta experience linked to buffet leftovers.
Ask Profiles. Ask the server about flavour profiles before ordering; one reviewer found staff helpful with matching dishes to preferences.
Visit Off-Peak. Choose a weekday or quieter period if possible, since busy visits have brought slower service and forgotten orders.
Plan Parking. Parking may be limited, so arrange your parking plans before arriving.
Allow Time. Leave extra time for the meal: one review says preparation takes time, even when the food is enjoyable.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Habbai building - Shop No. 2 - next to Rivoli Showroom
Al Karama, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Price Concerns
Several diners felt the food and portions did not justify the higher prices.
Inconsistent Pasta
Some recent reviews report overcooked, mushy pasta, although other diners found selected dishes excellent.
Slow Service
Service has been reported as slow or inattentive during busy periods, with some orders forgotten.
Hygiene Issues
One diner reported seeing a dead cockroach in the menu and flies around the restaurant.
Pizza Mismatch
A reviewer found the Bombay pizza unlike Italian pizza, citing raw onion and coriander.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 70
Lasangna combo
“It is written Lasangna combo at AED 70 and after discount 41 but they cut Lasangna portion also 50%”Google review · June 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Little Italy is a fully vegetarian Italian restaurant in Al Karama, with enough range to appeal to both committed vegetarians and meat-eaters looking for a meat-free meal. The menu includes vegan and gluten-free choices, plus Italian-Mexican and Indian-influenced dishes. Repeat visitors commonly return for the Aglio e Olio, ravioli and pink pasta, while the sourdough pizzas also receive strong praise.
There are some memorable extras. The cheese fondue, tiramisu, blueberry cheesecake and masala garlic bread all appear in positive reviews, and the kitchen has prepared an off-menu avocado toast on request. The atmosphere is generally described as cozy and welcoming, making it workable for family celebrations and birthdays.
The experience is not entirely consistent. Some diners consider it expensive for the quality, and recent complaints include mushy overcooked pasta, disappointing pizza and poor hygiene. Service can slow down during busy periods, with one guest reporting forgotten orders.
If you visit, consider going on a weekday, allowing time for preparation, and asking the server about flavour profiles. Parking may also require planning. Sunday is worth treating cautiously because one reviewer advised avoiding it after a poor pasta experience.