Big Oli, a fresh addition to Dubai’s culinary landscape, opened on Monday, 10th June, at Neighbourhood Food Hall, promising an authentic Italian dining experience.
The restaurant’s story revolves around Oli from Venice, who, as legend has it, fell into his mother’s pot of pasta as a boy and was inspired to share his family’s beloved bigoli pasta with the world. He committed to crafting traditional Italian dishes using bigoli, a classic Venetian pasta made from flour, semolina, and egg yolk, prepared fresh daily.
Named after this thick, chewy pasta, Big Oli celebrates Italy’s rich culinary traditions with dishes made from premium ingredients sourced directly from Venice and other regions of Italy.
“We are excited to introduce the flavors of Italy to Dubai,” said Head Chef Fabio Longhi, a Torino native with 11 years of experience as a private Italian chef in Dubai. “At Big Oli, we emphasize quality and authenticity. Our goal is to make our guests feel like they’re dining in a Venetian trattoria.” Chef Fabio’s top picks on the menu include squid ink bigoli and duck ragu bigoli.
The menu offers a diverse selection of pizza and pasta, such as shrimp peri peri pasta, anchovy salsa pasta with caramelized onion, creamy cacio e pepe, truffle pizza, and pepperoni pizza. Bigoli dishes come with various toppings like bolognese and pesto, ensuring options for everyone, including children.
Located in the welcoming Neighbourhood Food Hall and committed to traditional cooking methods, Big Oli provides the perfect setting for any meal, whether it’s a casual lunch or a gathering with friends and family.
