Sicilian Cooking
Reviews describe home-style dishes with generous portions and flavours reminiscent of Sicily.
Mamma Sicilia
Al Safa
Mamma Sicilia is a cosy Italian restaurant and deli in Al Safa, centred on traditional Sicilian cooking and sweets. Reviews make it especially appealing for fresh pasta meals, cannoli, panettone and gelato, with colourful decor and a relaxed neighbourhood feel.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
115 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh Pasta
Pasta is a consistent highlight, including carbonara, ravioli, arrabbiata and bolognese.
Cannoli
The ricotta cannoli is one of the clearest dessert draws, with several reviewers returning for it.
Italian Desserts
The deli section includes fresh cakes, biscuits, gelato and other Sicilian sweets to eat in or take home.
Warm Service
Multiple reviews mention friendly, helpful service and staff who explain unfamiliar Sicilian dishes.
Colourful Decor
Hand-painted tiles, vibrant Mediterranean colours and a cosy layout give the restaurant a distinctive atmosphere.
Reasonable Value
Reviewers describe the portions and food quality as good value, with prices considered reasonable.
Italian Groceries
Besides dining, you can browse Italian grocery items and buy products such as olive oil and assorted Sicilian sweets.
What to Eat at Mamma Sicilia 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 Mamma Sicilia, 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 Mamma Sicilia got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 3
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Pustachio gelato Net +4
“Thanks to Jesepe for taking good care of us. Make sure to try the Pistachio Gelato after your pasta!”
Positive 4Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Thanks to Jesepe for taking good care of us. Make sure to try the Pistachio Gelato after your pasta!”April 2025
“Cappuccino was superb and we enjoyed the pustachio gelato.”February 2026
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Panettone Net +3
“The panettone was super tasty, and you could tell the ingredients were top-notch.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The panettone was super tasty, and you could tell the ingredients were top-notch.”September 2024
“Their mouth-watering panettone was a true highlight, rich and flavorful—one of the best we've had.”September 2024
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Lasagna Net +2
“I loved the pistachio gelato and the lasagna.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I loved the pistachio gelato and the lasagna.”January 2025
“The lasagna and truffle pizza were good.”February 2026
Honorable mentions (31)
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Sicilian arancini Net +1
“Absolutely fantastic place. Real Sicilian owners, and the decoration is beautiful. Arancini balls were so authentic. Friendly service, even for little children. Will definitely be coming back!”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“Absolutely fantastic place. Real Sicilian owners, and the decoration is beautiful. Arancini balls were so authentic. Friendly service, even for little children. Will definitely be coming back!”November 2024
“My authentic Sicilian food, perfect against my homesick. Fresh, tasty and genuine. I had arancino, granita and biscuits. Friendly and fast service, reasonable prices and colorful ambience. I will definitely come back.”October 2024
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Sicilian granita Net +1
“My authentic Sicilian food, perfect against my homesick. Fresh, tasty and genuine. I had arancino, granita and biscuits. Friendly and fast service, reasonable prices and colorful ambience. I will definitely come back.”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“My authentic Sicilian food, perfect against my homesick. Fresh, tasty and genuine. I had arancino, granita and biscuits. Friendly and fast service, reasonable prices and colorful ambience. I will definitely come back.”October 2024
“The coffee, granita, and cookies were some of the best I’ve ever had—really authentic and full of flavor.”September 2024
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Almond granita Net +1
“Must try! The best croissants in Dubai, definitely try the almond granita with the brioche - authentic Sicilian.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Must try! The best croissants in Dubai, definitely try the almond granita with the brioche - authentic Sicilian.”August 2024
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Arrabbiata pasta Net +1
“The food is delicious I loved the arrabbiata pasta.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is delicious I loved the arrabbiata pasta.”January 2026
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Big ricotta cannoli Net +1
“Loved the cozy vibes and the cannolis were divine! Had to order another big ricotta cannoli and would definitely come back for it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the cozy vibes and the cannolis were divine! Had to order another big ricotta cannoli and would definitely come back for it.”February 2026
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Biscotti Net +1
“A big thank you to Shakira and Nino (Nina) for explaining everything to us and looking after us when we came for biscotti and dinner. Everything was delightful and we will be back again and again 😍”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A big thank you to Shakira and Nino (Nina) for explaining everything to us and looking after us when we came for biscotti and dinner. Everything was delightful and we will be back again and again 😍”July 2025
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Bolognese Net +1
“Freshly made pasta, bolognese cooked to perfection. A must visit!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Freshly made pasta, bolognese cooked to perfection. A must visit!”August 2024
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Brioche Net +1
“Must try! The best croissants in Dubai, definitely try the almond granita with the brioche - authentic Sicilian.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Must try! The best croissants in Dubai, definitely try the almond granita with the brioche - authentic Sicilian.”August 2024
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Brioche con il gelato Net +1
“Brioche con il gelato, sicilian style! Perfect!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Brioche con il gelato, sicilian style! Perfect!”May 2026
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Canoli Net +1
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”August 2024
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Cantucci Net +1
“Delicious cannoli and Cassata and also Cantucci and biscuits.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious cannoli and Cassata and also Cantucci and biscuits.”March 2025
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Carbonara Net +1
“I had the best carbonara in Dubai. Also their gelato and deserts are fabulous.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the best carbonara in Dubai. Also their gelato and deserts are fabulous.”January 2026
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Cassata Net +1
“Delicious cannoli and Cassata and also Cantucci and biscuits.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious cannoli and Cassata and also Cantucci and biscuits.”March 2025
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Creamy gelato Net +1
“From their signature pizzas to the final touch of creamy gelato, everything was spot on.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“From their signature pizzas to the final touch of creamy gelato, everything was spot on.”June 2025
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Fresh cannoli with vanilla and hazelnuts Net +1
“The fresh cannoli with vanilla and hazelnuts is now my favorite. It was simply divine, the flavor was fresh and delicate.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The fresh cannoli with vanilla and hazelnuts is now my favorite. It was simply divine, the flavor was fresh and delicate.”May 2025
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Hazelnut gelato Net +1
“I had 4 flavors of gelato and it took me back to Italy 🤍✨ I love the tiramisu, hazelnut and pistachio gelato especially.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had 4 flavors of gelato and it took me back to Italy 🤍✨ I love the tiramisu, hazelnut and pistachio gelato especially.”August 2024
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Heavenly cannoli Net +1
“Mamma Sicilia is definitely worth a visit. I’ll definitely be coming back again to try more dishes and of course, to enjoy their heavenly cannoli once more.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mamma Sicilia is definitely worth a visit. I’ll definitely be coming back again to try more dishes and of course, to enjoy their heavenly cannoli once more.”May 2025
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Large muffin Net +1
“However, their pastries are excellent — I tried a large muffin, and it was truly delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“However, their pastries are excellent — I tried a large muffin, and it was truly delicious.”July 2025
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Lemon granita Net +1
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”August 2024
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Mini-pizzas Net +1
“Tasty mini-pizzas and small green pastry with ricotta inside.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tasty mini-pizzas and small green pastry with ricotta inside.”March 2026
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Pistachio ice cream Net +1
“But the real star was the pistachio ice cream—hands down the best in Dubai!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“But the real star was the pistachio ice cream—hands down the best in Dubai!”September 2024
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Ravioli Net +1
“I originally went in for a sweet treat but followed my heart and opted for a delicious ravioli instead 😋.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I originally went in for a sweet treat but followed my heart and opted for a delicious ravioli instead 😋.”October 2024
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Ricotta cheese ravioli in tomato sauce Net +1
“As for my meal, I had ricotta cheese ravioli in tomato sauce. The ricotta filling was creamy and delicate, and the tomato sauce tasted fresh and vibrant.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“As for my meal, I had ricotta cheese ravioli in tomato sauce. The ricotta filling was creamy and delicate, and the tomato sauce tasted fresh and vibrant.”May 2025
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Savory breakfast with eggs Net +1
“Even the savory breakfast with eggs is no exception, really something different and with high quality ingredients 😊”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Even the savory breakfast with eggs is no exception, really something different and with high quality ingredients 😊”March 2025
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Sicilian cooked lamb Net +1
“My husband absolutely loved the tagliolini with garlic oil and chili pepper as well as the Sicilian cooked lamb , which I also tried. It was rich, tender, and perfectly seasoned.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My husband absolutely loved the tagliolini with garlic oil and chili pepper as well as the Sicilian cooked lamb , which I also tried. It was rich, tender, and perfectly seasoned.”May 2025
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Small green pastry with ricotta inside Net +1
“Tasty mini-pizzas and small green pastry with ricotta inside.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tasty mini-pizzas and small green pastry with ricotta inside.”March 2026
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Spaghetti bolognese Net +1
“Absolutely loved the food! The spaghetti bolognese was superb! Loved the flavours and the freshness of the food. Highly recommend.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Absolutely loved the food! The spaghetti bolognese was superb! Loved the flavours and the freshness of the food. Highly recommend.”August 2024
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Spaghetti with sicilian pesto sauce Net +1
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We followed their recommendations and enjoyed everything they brought to us: Antipasti, Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto Sauce, Canoli and a great lemon Granita.”August 2024
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Tagliolini with garlic oil and chili pepper Net +1
“My husband absolutely loved the tagliolini with garlic oil and chili pepper as well as the Sicilian cooked lamb , which I also tried.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My husband absolutely loved the tagliolini with garlic oil and chili pepper as well as the Sicilian cooked lamb , which I also tried.”May 2025
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Tiramisu gelato Net +1
“I had 4 flavors of gelato and it took me back to Italy 🤍✨ I love the tiramisu, hazelnut and pistachio gelato especially.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had 4 flavors of gelato and it took me back to Italy 🤍✨ I love the tiramisu, hazelnut and pistachio gelato especially.”August 2024
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Truffle pizza Net +1
“The lasagna and truffle pizza were good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The lasagna and truffle pizza were good.”February 2026
Drinks 1
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Cappuccino Net +1
“Cappuccino was superb and we enjoyed the pustachio gelato.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Cappuccino was superb and we enjoyed the pustachio gelato.”February 2026
What to Avoid (4)
Food 3
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Ceasar salad Net −1
“I ordered simple ceasar salad.. and what i got is little vegies with hard undercooked chicken swimming in a soup of mayonnaise.. i think u should call it soup mayonnaise ceasar!! I am disappointed where is the salad then?!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered simple ceasar salad.. and what i got is little vegies with hard undercooked chicken swimming in a soup of mayonnaise.. i think u should call it soup mayonnaise ceasar!! I am disappointed where is the salad then?!”May 2026
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Omelette with tomatoes and spinach Net −1
“I hadn’t had breakfast yet, so I ordered the omelette with tomatoes and spinach. Unfortunately, it had a strange metallic smell — almost like iron — and I couldn’t finish it.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I hadn’t had breakfast yet, so I ordered the omelette with tomatoes and spinach. Unfortunately, it had a strange metallic smell — almost like iron — and I couldn’t finish it.”July 2025
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Palermitan chicken breast with breadcrumbs Net −1
“However, the palermitan chicken breast with breadcrumbs was quite disappointing. The outer layer was not crispy , but rather hard , and the chicken inside lacked tenderness and flavor.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“However, the palermitan chicken breast with breadcrumbs was quite disappointing. The outer layer was not crispy , but rather hard , and the chicken inside lacked tenderness and flavor.”May 2025
Drinks 1
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Cortado Net −1
“The Cortado I ordered tasted more like a cappuccino, which was disappointing.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The Cortado I ordered tasted more like a cappuccino, which was disappointing.”July 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Try Cannoli. Start with a ricotta cannoli; one reviewer ordered a second large one after trying it.
Try Gelato. Leave room for pistachio gelato after pasta; it is repeatedly praised alongside the desserts.
Ask Questions. Ask the staff to explain the Sicilian dishes if you are unfamiliar with the menu.
Check Orders. For collection, confirm the exact panettone size and availability beforehand because one festive pickup order changed unexpectedly.
Choose Pastries. Pastries are a safer breakfast bet than the omelette for one reviewer, who specifically enjoyed the large muffin.
Share Dishes. Consider sharing or ordering selectively: one reviewer found the menu decent but not very extensive, while portions were generous.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Firdous Complex - Shop 10 - 3 Al Wasl Rd
Al Safa 1 - Al Safa, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent Chicken
The Caesar salad was reported to contain hard, undercooked chicken and excessive mayonnaise.
Greasy Arancini
One visit found the arancini extremely greasy, with very little ragù filling.
Breakfast Concern
A reviewer found an omelette with a metallic smell and felt the concern was not handled attentively.
Food Hygiene
One customer reported finding a thread in a cake and questioned the preparation environment.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Mamma Sicilia is a small Sicilian restaurant and deli in Al Safa where you can sit down for pasta, browse Italian grocery products, or stop by for coffee and sweets. The strongest recurring draws are cannoli, pistachio gelato, panettone and granita, while dishes such as carbonara, ravioli and bolognese also receive warm praise. The setting is cosy rather than polished or showy.
Reviewers mention colourful Mediterranean decor, hand-painted tiles on the tables and a welcoming atmosphere that works for relaxed meals, desserts or a casual family visit. Portions are often described as generous, and several customers consider the pricing reasonable for the quality. Desserts appear to be the most dependable starting point: one guest ordered a second large ricotta cannoli, while others singled out the pistachio gelato, panettone and brioche with granita.
Staff are often praised for being friendly and willing to explain the menu. Quality and service are not completely consistent. Reports include greasy arancini, hard chicken in a Caesar salad, an omelette with a metallic smell, and a thread found in a cake.
Delivery and WhatsApp communication also drew complaints, so confirm collection orders carefully. For a first visit, prioritise the Sicilian pastries and ask about the day’s dishes before ordering.