Diana Farah Dubai

A unique contemporary restaurant, Mami Umami, combining Japanese and Latin American cuisine opened its doors at Renaissance Hotel in Dubai on Aug. 18, providing guests with a vibrant atmosphere for food, beverage and entertainment.

Food and Beverage Director Gian Carlo D’Urso spoke exclusively to Arab News Japan about Mami Umami’s exciting culinary experience, which resembles izakaya-style dining with a fresh twist.

“By combining the refined and fresh elements of Japanese cuisine, with rich colorful enticing flavors from Latin America, we have reached the perfect formula,” D’Urso said.

The menu includes Japanese flavors such as sashimi and sushi, as well as Latin American elements such as ceviche.

“The menu is a fair combination between the two cuisines. It is an initial menu that we are starting with, however, it will evolve exceptionally throughout the next few months,” he explained.

Guests and clients can expect dishes including avocado and assorted tempura, grilled dishes like black cod with miso salad and fried rice with shrimp.

The team responsible for the food served have a strong expertise in Japanese cuisine, D’Urso said.

Mami Umami, which was in the works for a while, provides guests and clients with a terrace view of the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, and Downtown Dubai, making it a venue with all the “key elements to sustain a successful entertainment concept.”

D’Urso told Arab News Japan the music at Mami Umami will “be very fun and tropical. It will be more of lounge music and upbeat rhythms; it is very exciting.”

Mami Umami is divided into two floors; the ground floor, which is where guests can enjoy their meals, and the upper floor, where the entertainment concept will take place along the terrace.

“The upper floor is where the fun starts after the meal,” the F&B Director said.

Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, D’Urso said Mami Umami is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the hygiene and safety of the guests.

“We use sophisticated tools and machinery to sanitize the hotel and restaurant,” he explained. “Throughout the meal, we are attentive to the guests’ needs, we make sure to sanitize tables when they sit down and when they leave. Menus are also accessed through a QR code.”