Wood-fired pizza
Reviews praised thin, crisp pizzas made in a traditional or wood-fired oven, with one customer comparing them to pizza in Italy.
Tomato Pizzeria
Al Barsha
Tomato Pizzeria was a cosy Al Barsha Italian restaurant known in customer reviews for thin pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, including the Melanzane, plus popular pasta and tiramisu. However, a September 2021 review reports that it had permanently closed and become Oriental Dining.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
168 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Melanzane pizza
The Melanzane combined eggplant, basil, honey, parmesan and mozzarella; one reviewer called its sweet-savory flavour exceptional.
Strong pasta
The Bolognese, pink penne and mushroom-and-chicken pasta all received notably positive feedback from different reviewers.
Large tiramisu
A reviewer described the tiramisu portion as generous enough for two or three people to share.
Cosy setting
Customers described a small, rustic interior with vintage decor, mellow lighting and seating around the open pizza oven.
Helpful recovery
After a driver got lost and the order arrived late, the manager personally delivered a fresh replacement order.
What to Eat at Tomato Pizzeria 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 Tomato Pizzeria, 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 Tomato Pizzeria, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
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Classic tiramisu Net +2
“For desserts, we tried the classic tiramisu which was one of the best we have ever tried. The portion size is also really big which can be shared among 2 or 3.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For desserts, we tried the classic tiramisu which was one of the best we have ever tried. The portion size is also really big which can be shared among 2 or 3.”January 2018
“1. Tiramisu : This dessert was a gift from the heavens, and nothing short of it. A generous helping of Tiramisu was served to us, good for atleast 3 people to share, this dessert was a performance of flavors and textures. Soft velvety cake, sandwiched between a light fluffy white cream and coffee dusted layer. One of the best Tiramisus we’ve had in town.”January 2018
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Melanzane Net +2
“Its called Melanzane. Eggplant, basil, honey, parmesan and MOZZARELLA. So simple but bombed with flavors. Guess the traditional oven had done its magic. Always have loved baked aubergines and the hint of honey at every bite gives the Healthy sweetness. Highly recommended the Melanzane and guaranteed will love the Pizza all over again.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Its called Melanzane. Eggplant, basil, honey, parmesan and MOZZARELLA. So simple but bombed with flavors. Guess the traditional oven had done its magic. Always have loved baked aubergines and the hint of honey at every bite gives the Healthy sweetness. Highly recommended the Melanzane and guaranteed will love the Pizza all over again.”December 2020
“🍕Melanzane: Eggplant, Parmesan, honey , mozerella with tomato base 🍕Pepperoni Pizza: Italian beef pepperoni with oregano mozzarella and tomato base I am not a vegetarian but the egg plant pizza was just beyond my expectations... I never had this yummy vegetarian pizza before...”December 2020
Honorable mentions (20)
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All meat pizza Net +1
“All meat pizza - 5/5 Bolognese pasta - 5/5 I cannot believe the price for the quality you get. Great fresh ingredients. This is top quality pizza and pasta with very affordable prices.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“All meat pizza - 5/5 Bolognese pasta - 5/5 I cannot believe the price for the quality you get. Great fresh ingredients. This is top quality pizza and pasta with very affordable prices.”March 2021
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Arabiata pizza Net +1
“Pretty good variety of pizzas. Had the Special Filafel pizza and Arabiata Pizza, loved them! Must try for pizza lovers.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Pretty good variety of pizzas. Had the Special Filafel pizza and Arabiata Pizza, loved them! Must try for pizza lovers.”March 2017
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Aranchini Net +1
“✅Aranchini Rice filled croquettes with chicken or cheese”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“✅Aranchini Rice filled croquettes with chicken or cheese”December 2020
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Bolognese pasta Net +1
“All meat pizza - 5/5 Bolognese pasta - 5/5 I cannot believe the price for the quality you get. Great fresh ingredients. This is top quality pizza and pasta with very affordable prices.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“All meat pizza - 5/5 Bolognese pasta - 5/5 I cannot believe the price for the quality you get. Great fresh ingredients. This is top quality pizza and pasta with very affordable prices.”March 2021
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Bruschetta Net +1
“Their Bruschetta is one of the best I had for a long while. One of the best part is these bruschetta are baked the traditional oven. That made them so soft to chew and melted.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Bruschetta is one of the best I had for a long while. One of the best part is these bruschetta are baked the traditional oven. That made them so soft to chew and melted.”December 2020
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Buffalo chicken pizza Net +1
“The Buffalo Chicken Pizza was as good as the other dishes, although I wouldve loved some more chunks on top.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Buffalo Chicken Pizza was as good as the other dishes, although I wouldve loved some more chunks on top.”September 2019
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Chef special barbeque pizza Net +1
“We chose to have two types of pizza in one. First was Chef special barbeque pizza with char grilled chicken, bbq sauce, mozzarella, hot dog etc. Next one was Diavola with spicy pepperoni. I loved both the variants but the bbq one was my favorite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We chose to have two types of pizza in one. First was Chef special barbeque pizza with char grilled chicken, bbq sauce, mozzarella, hot dog etc. Next one was Diavola with spicy pepperoni. I loved both the variants but the bbq one was my favorite.”January 2018
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Chocolate fondant Net +1
“2. Chocolate Fondant : A classic favorite of course. This was a delicious hot soft chocolately cake, which cracks open to reveal the, very familiar, oozing hot chocolate sauce. Served with a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream, this dessert leaves a smile on your face, along with a little chocolate too!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“2. Chocolate Fondant : A classic favorite of course. This was a delicious hot soft chocolately cake, which cracks open to reveal the, very familiar, oozing hot chocolate sauce. Served with a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream, this dessert leaves a smile on your face, along with a little chocolate too!”January 2018
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Diavola Net +1
“We chose to have two types of pizza in one. First was Chef special barbeque pizza with char grilled chicken, bbq sauce, mozzarella, hot dog etc. Next one was Diavola with spicy pepperoni. I loved both the variants but the bbq one was my favorite.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We chose to have two types of pizza in one. First was Chef special barbeque pizza with char grilled chicken, bbq sauce, mozzarella, hot dog etc. Next one was Diavola with spicy pepperoni. I loved both the variants but the bbq one was my favorite.”January 2018
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Gamberoni arrosto Net +1
“For appetizers, we ordered Gamberoni arrosto which is roasted tiger prawns in olive oil, garlic, chili and herbs. It was done perfectly according to my taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For appetizers, we ordered Gamberoni arrosto which is roasted tiger prawns in olive oil, garlic, chili and herbs. It was done perfectly according to my taste.”January 2018
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Italian pizza Net +1
“Cosy Resturant, very tasty Italian pizza”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Cosy Resturant, very tasty Italian pizza”November 2018
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Mushroom and chicken pasta Net +1
“The Mushroom and Chicken Pasta was absolutely stunning - creamy and flavourful, as it is meant to be.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Mushroom and Chicken Pasta was absolutely stunning - creamy and flavourful, as it is meant to be.”September 2019
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Pink penne pasta Net +1
“1. Pink Penne Pasta : We LOVED this pasta. It was one of the best pastas we’ve had in town and definitely will make it to the top ten list of best pink penne pastas in town. What made it so great? Well, the pasta was perfectly al dente, the pink sauce was a beautiful creamy pink thick sauce, which was perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs. Our favorite dish, a full 10/10.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“1. Pink Penne Pasta : We LOVED this pasta. It was one of the best pastas we’ve had in town and definitely will make it to the top ten list of best pink penne pastas in town. What made it so great? Well, the pasta was perfectly al dente, the pink sauce was a beautiful creamy pink thick sauce, which was perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs. Our favorite dish, a full 10/10.”January 2018
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Quattro formaggi pizza Net +1
“We opted for a quattro formaggi pizza to share as a starter course and then two pasta dishes as main courses. The lady so sweetly explained to us that the quattro formaggi pizza is served with white sauce instead of red unless we wanted to change this - we did not and it was absolutely divine - very thin and perfectly done.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We opted for a quattro formaggi pizza to share as a starter course and then two pasta dishes as main courses. The lady so sweetly explained to us that the quattro formaggi pizza is served with white sauce instead of red unless we wanted to change this - we did not and it was absolutely divine - very thin and perfectly done.”February 2020
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Salsa rosa pizza Net +1
“One of the nicest Italian restaurants in Dubai. Love having the Spaghetti Arrabiata here and Salsa Rosa Pizza”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the nicest Italian restaurants in Dubai. Love having the Spaghetti Arrabiata here and Salsa Rosa Pizza”November 2019
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Spaghetti arrabiata Net +1
“One of the nicest Italian restaurants in Dubai. Love having the Spaghetti Arrabiata here and Salsa Rosa Pizza”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“One of the nicest Italian restaurants in Dubai. Love having the Spaghetti Arrabiata here and Salsa Rosa Pizza”November 2019
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Special filafel pizza Net +1
“Pretty good variety of pizzas. Had the Special Filafel pizza and Arabiata Pizza, loved them! Must try for pizza lovers.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Pretty good variety of pizzas. Had the Special Filafel pizza and Arabiata Pizza, loved them! Must try for pizza lovers.”March 2017
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Spicy chicken wings Net +1
“The spicy chicken wings were not spicy, yet very fresh and tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The spicy chicken wings were not spicy, yet very fresh and tasty.”September 2019
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Pizza caprocciosa Net 0
Mixed feedback
“But pizza Caprocciosa was nice taste good, the tomato sauce is nice and fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“But pizza Caprocciosa was nice taste good, the tomato sauce is nice and fresh.”November 2019
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Habanero pizza (chef special) Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“2. Habanero Pizza (Chef Special): A bed of thin pizza crust layered with olive oil, chicken pieces, mozzarella cheese and garnished with fiery cherry red bell peppers. We found that the oil used was a bit much and was dripping off the pizza. We would have preferred a tomato base along with the cheese. The chicken was tender and cooked well. Warning to the non-spice foodies, this is not something that could be handled by all. This one is meant for the crazy spice lovers who can take on the heat on its maximum scale.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
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Passion fruit mojito Net +2
“1. Passion Fruit Mojito: A lovely tall glass of some fresh passion fruit with a mix of mint and lemon. To be honest we’ve never had a Mojito as good as this. It was fresh and full of flavor. The only negative was that there was too much crushed ice in our drink and after a while it gets too diluted which became quite unpleasant to drink.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“1. Passion Fruit Mojito: A lovely tall glass of some fresh passion fruit with a mix of mint and lemon. To be honest we’ve never had a Mojito as good as this. It was fresh and full of flavor. The only negative was that there was too much crushed ice in our drink and after a while it gets too diluted which became quite unpleasant to drink.”January 2018
“We also ordered two drinks, forest berry smoothie and passion fruit mojito. The smoothie was too thick for me but passion mojito was ok.”January 2018
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Lemon and mint drink Net +1
“Lemon and Mint drink was standard, yet refreshing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Lemon and Mint drink was standard, yet refreshing.”September 2019
What to Avoid (6)
Food 4
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7 Cheese sette formaggi pizza Net −1
“Ordered two pizza , 7 cheese sette formaggi pizza was not good at all just a dough with cheese on top, nothing special and it taste like cheese manakesh.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ordered two pizza , 7 cheese sette formaggi pizza was not good at all just a dough with cheese on top, nothing special and it taste like cheese manakesh.”November 2019
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Brodo di pollo soup Net −1
“I started off with a hot brodo di pollo soup. It is made with chicken broth and veggies.I asked them to make it mild spicy but it felt like boiled chicken in tomato and onions without much flavor.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I started off with a hot brodo di pollo soup. It is made with chicken broth and veggies.I asked them to make it mild spicy but it felt like boiled chicken in tomato and onions without much flavor.”January 2018
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Mango tango Net −1
“3. Mango Tango: A glass of mango juice which is sugar free but we would have liked the sugar along with it, since that was the only thing lacking.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“3. Mango Tango: A glass of mango juice which is sugar free but we would have liked the sugar along with it, since that was the only thing lacking.”January 2018
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White lava with ice cream Net −1
“We wanted to try the black lava with ice cream but the available one was white lava with ice cream. I felt it was not cooked properly.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We wanted to try the black lava with ice cream but the available one was white lava with ice cream. I felt it was not cooked properly.”January 2018
Drinks 2
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Forest berry smoothie Net −1
“We also ordered two drinks, forest berry smoothie and passion fruit mojito. The smoothie was too thick for me but passion mojito was ok.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We also ordered two drinks, forest berry smoothie and passion fruit mojito. The smoothie was too thick for me but passion mojito was ok.”January 2018
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Fresh lime and mint mojito Net −1
“2. Fresh Lime and Mint Mojito: This drink was very refreshing. Great presentation. However, we did find it a tad bit too sour, maybe it was too much lime, and hence wasn’t a hit with us.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“2. Fresh Lime and Mint Mojito: This drink was very refreshing. Great presentation. However, we did find it a tad bit too sour, maybe it was too much lime, and hence wasn’t a hit with us.”January 2018
Tips for a Better Visit
Check status. Check the venue’s current identity before visiting: a 2021 review says it had permanently closed and become Oriental Dining.
Eat in. Historically, eating in was the safer choice for hot pizza; multiple delivery reviews reported very long waits and cold food.
Plan parking. Allow extra time for parking during busy periods; one reviewer said the wait could be considerable at peak times.
Try Melanzane. For a vegetarian option, consider the Melanzane with eggplant, basil, honey, parmesan and mozzarella.
Ask sauce. If ordering quattro formaggi, ask whether you want the white sauce or a red sauce; the restaurant explained the default was white.
Share dessert. The tiramisu was reported to be large enough for two or three people, so it may suit a shared finish.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Shop 7, Saleh Bin Lahej Building, Seedaf St - شارع البرشاء 1
Al Barsha - Al Barsha 1, Dubai
| Mon | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Tue | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Wed | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Thu | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Fri | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sat | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sun | 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Closed status
A September 2021 review states that the restaurant was permanently closed and was then serving pan-Asian food as Oriental Dining.
Delivery delays
Several delivery reviews report severe delays, including orders taking 1 hour 40 minutes, three hours or arriving cold.
Parking pressure
Parking was repeatedly described as difficult during busy periods, including weekdays and peak times.
Uneven quality
Experiences varied sharply: some diners praised the pizza, while others reported poor dough, odd cheese or spoiled-tasting artichokes.
Price concerns
Some customers considered it expensive or overpriced relative to the quality and quantity they received.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Tomato Pizzeria’s reviews describe a small, rustic Italian restaurant in Al Barsha, with an open kitchen and pizzas cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven. Historically, the strongest reasons to visit were the thin pizzas, the Melanzane with eggplant, basil, honey, parmesan and mozzarella, and pasta dishes such as Bolognese, pink penne and mushroom-and-chicken pasta. The tiramisu was another standout, with one reviewer saying the portion could serve two or three people.
The setting was cosy rather than glossy: vintage-style decor, mellow lighting and tables arranged around the oven made the cooking part of the experience. Reviews also mention friendly service, and one manager replaced a delayed order personally after the driver got lost. For dine-in customers, several reports describe pizza arriving fresh, hot, juicy and crunchy.
There are important cautions. Parking could be difficult during peak periods, while delivery feedback included waits of 1 hour 40 minutes or more and cold food. Food quality was inconsistent across reviews, and some diners felt prices were high for what they received, despite another report of a pizza, drink and salad dinner for AED 43.
Most importantly, a September 2021 review says the pizzeria had permanently closed and the premises were serving pan-Asian food as Oriental Dining, so verify the current business before making plans.