little italy

Graziano Vastola says the key to running a successful restaurant in Dubai is originality.... and he should know! The 26 year-old was "born in a restaurant" and is following his parents' lead by earning a top name in the dining industry. But Graziano is about to face his biggest adventure yet by leading a highly talented team at the recently opened Venezia Italian Restaurant. As the name suggests, "Venezia" carries a strong Italian theme with visions of the magnificent city of Venice dominating the plush new restaurant located at the Metropolitan Hotel and entertainment complex on Sheikh Zayed Road. Gondoliers and a canal running right up to the front door of traditional Italian housing create an instant feeling of the Italian city, with a delightful Italian ambience created by the traditional live background music and refreshing decor.

"We have tried to recreate a street in Venice here in Dubai at the restaurant," said Graziano, who arrived in Dubai from his native Italy three years ago. "The thing I enjoy most in this profession is being creative and this new restaurant is unique. It offers something that has never been seen before in Dubai." Venezia is a three-in-one outlet spread over three floors with something for everyone, from drinks at the bar to extensive Italian cuisine in the main restaurant. There are opening hours to follow but Graziano said customer satisfaction is always the main priority and if the customer wants a drink at 2.30am when the bar shuts at 2.00am, then they will be pleased to serve.

"This is not your normal dining experience," added Graziano. "The guest will enjoy their meal in a unique, relaxed atmosphere that is typically Italian. Sure there are already Italian restaurants in Dubai and we took that into consideration when "Venezia" was created. We did not want to provide just another restaurant, we wanted to create a whole new dining experience which we have done with great success." The fine cuisine is backed up by a dedicated personnel which currently features five Italians with two more on the way. The rest of the staff is made up of Europeans trained in the "Italian mentality" according to Graziano.