Renowned as ‘the best pizza in New York’, Motorino’s Neapolitan pizza hails from Brooklyn NYC and has since become an iconic restaurant in 9 locations worldwide, from Hong Kong to Singapore and now to Dubai, at JA Ocean View Hotel on The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence.
Founder and Chef Mathieu Palombino has announced the culinary collaboration with JA Resorts & Hotels as his first foray into the Middle East and will personally open the fully licensed, 120 seat pizzeria on the 6th of November. His pizzas were called “the best of a new generation of pizzas” by the New York Times, and Motorino NY continues to accrue accolades to this day - it features in The Bib Gourmand Michelin Guide, was awarded Best Pizzeria in New York by The New York Times, Best New Pizza Joints in the City by New York magazine and as a Chefs Feed Winner of ‘One of the Best Things to Eat in NYC’.
Those in search of similar artisanal pizza perfection in Dubai will enjoy pondering just what makes Motorino pizza so good. It seems to be an elusive equation of fresh Italian ingredients, a dough that has a traditional 2-day rising process to produce a bubbly, yet crispy crust and an authentic Neapolitan preparation style and flair. The secret to success may lie in the details -fresh buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy and the precise positioning of the pizza in the bespoke brick oven. It may even be down to its founder Mathieu Palombino’s unusual assertions about pizza preferences - in 2008 he created his signature Brussel Sprouts pizza because he felt the other toppings were ‘manly’ and ‘Ladies love Brussels sprouts. That’s a fact. I don’t know. There’s just something about them that women like’.
Aside from a full list of light yet sumptuous pizza’s, the menu also features antipasti like Meatballs and Octopus Salad, alongside classic desserts like Tiramisu and Torta al Cioccolato and a full range of Italian wines and beers. Pasta dishes are deliciously authentic and tempting, from the Casarecce Lamb Ragu with artichoke, mint and pecorino Romano cheese to the Ravioli stuffed with braised veal ossobuco, veal sugo, sage and parmigiano. Diners will be welcomed to a casual yet stylish restaurant with servers in jeans and t-shirts amongst comfortable booth seating and mixed wooden tables. Deep red and green colours give a nod to the Italian birthplace of pizza while the centre of the action is the open kitchen and brick pizza oven. The indoor area is filled with plants giving an indoor-to-outdoor feel onto the terrace which can hold 40 people. The ambience is set be relaxed with an air of fun, throwback RnB tunes playing, full bar and affordable prices – a buzzing social eatery that is really about the simplicity of a great pizza.
Vice President of Food & Beverage, Rob Cunningham said ‘You can get pizza anywhere, but great pizza is another story. JA Resorts & Hotels has drafted in Mathieu Palombino of Motorino New York because this is personally the best pizza we’ve ever tasted globally, and we want to bring the best to Dubai. As a company we want to create community-focused restaurants providing one-of-a-kind experiences that energize everyone. We want to be known for awesome food, killer tunes and people having an unforgettable time – so we are bringing in globally renowned chefs and concepts to liven up the F&B scene in our properties. Don’t take my word for it though, try Motorino pizza for yourself and let your taste buds decide’.
About the Founder
Belgian-born, French-trained chef, pizzaiolo and entrepreneur Mathieu Palombino is the founder of the Motorino restaurants. After cooking school, Chef Mathieu Palombino spent much of his teenage years apprenticing in restaurant kitchens in his native Belgium before working in fine dining restaurants in Brussels. He arrived in New York in 2000 and worked under renowned chefs such as David Bouley and Laurent Tourondel, furthering his classical French training. As chef de cuisine of BLT Fish, Palombino earned three stars in the New York Times and one Michelin star at the age of 27. In 2008, Palombino opened Motorino in Brooklyn, his first personal venture.
Opening Hours: 12-12pm daily. No reservation required and children welcome.