Brunch Review: La Dolce Vita Evening Brunch at Certo, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City

Saluti! Celebrate the start of the weekend at Certo’s Thursday evening brunch with packages to suit all.

Starting the weekend on a high, we pull up to the new Thursday brunch at Italian hotspot Certo. Situated on the ground floor of Radisson Blu Media City Hotel, Certo is swanky and cosy, offering an evening filled with delicious Italian flavours, free-flowing beverages and a live singer belting out the best jazz and swing sounds. 

Brunch occurs between 7:30pm until 10:30pm and the hostess is keenly awaiting our arrival. The seating area is small but spacious and the six-metre grape stand is a great talking point of the room. From our table, we have a great view of the restaurant, with windows looking out onto the busy streets of Media City. We feel embraced by the welcoming ambience and immediately feel relaxed after a busy week. Ganesh, our friendly waiter, runs through the brunch package, filled with smiles and plenty of recommendations.

Offering a collection of signature beverages as part of the extensive brunch package, the Italian Cosmopolitan comes highly recommended. The cocktail list is varied and you can also choose from a selection of grapes, hops and Prosecco. There is also a wide range of mocktails and soft drinks and we’re impressed with the options for a brunch package. 

Our waiter makes room on the table for the antipasti, a fabulous sharing platter of cold Italian bites that evokes the classic atmosphere. This is swiftly followed by fresh pasta from the live station – we opt for a tomato-based penne and a penne bognesse. The portions are small, which suits us as the waiter lets us know that we have pizza to follow. The food is delicious, so it’s hard to pause and we try to keep some room for the mains. Yes, there are mains! After a short break, our vegetarian pizza arrives – we can smell it before we see it. Filled with fresh vegetables and herbs, we enjoy every piping hot slice. 

Secondi, the mains, offer something for everyone. It’s a tough choice but we opt for mouth-watering Filetto di branzino, pan-fried sea bass infused green pea puree – so good! We also try the Agnello, a rack of lamb baked with anchovies, rosemary and garlic, served with potato fondant and rosemary sauce that’s cooked to perfection. Other options for mains include Salmone norvegese alla griglia, spinaci saltati all’aglio, salsa agli agrumi (pan-fried Norwegian salmon filet, aromatic bread crumb, sautéed spinach, grilled cherry tomatoes and citrus sauce), Polletto arrosto (roasted baby chicken), and Insalata di rucola e pomodorini (rocket and cherry tomato salad). 

Ending the meal with an indulgent selection of sweet delights, we opt for the Tomaggio al tiramisu, a homemade tiramisu, and the luscious pannacotta with berries. 

La Dolce Vita Evening Brunch packages are priced at AED 199 (soft beverages), AED 299 (house beverages) and AED 349 (sparkling package). This family-friendly brunch allows children up to the age of ten to dine for free from the restaurant’s kids menu. 

Your Thursday nights are sorted. This aesthetically appealing brunch spot is best enjoyed with a group of friends, sipping on fresh-quality drinks and living in the moment with good food, great company and the mellow sounds of jazz music from the live singer. Certo is a welcome addition to Dubai’s night brunch scene. 

GO: Call (0)4 366 9187 or follow @certodubai on Instagram for reservations and more information.