Novikov Abu Dhabi is a useful choice when you want an Italian-Mediterranean meal at The Galleria rather than another Japanese dining room on Al Maryah Island. Its menu gives a mixed group pasta, fish and meat options, with a weekday lunch that is easier to budget than an open-ended dinner. Choose the format before the…
Novikov Abu Dhabi is a useful choice when you want an Italian-Mediterranean meal at The Galleria rather than another Japanese dining room on Al Maryah Island. Its menu gives a mixed group pasta, fish and meat options, with a weekday lunch that is easier to budget than an open-ended dinner. Choose the format before the occasion: lunch, à la carte and a late evening with music are different plans.
We would shortlist Novikov for a mixed-menu group on Al Maryah Island. Pasta, fish, meat and pizza give diners different ways into the same meal. The deciding factors are the food format, the table and the total bill. This guide compares those choices using the restaurant’s current menus and booking information.
Key Takeaways
- Novikov serves an Italian-Mediterranean menu at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, with pasta, pizza, fish and meat choices.
- The weekday business lunch starts at AED 148 per person; it is a different format from an à la carte dinner.
- The worked four-dish example totals AED 730 before drinks, dessert and other additions.
- Book through the official restaurant page and confirm any terrace request rather than assuming a particular seat.
- Seafood-market items can be priced by weight: ask for the portion and total before ordering.
The Background: From London’s Mayfair to Abu Dhabi
The Novikov name connects this Abu Dhabi restaurant with an international hospitality brand. That does not mean every branch serves the same menu. Use the capital’s own restaurant site when looking at dishes, drinks and booking details; a London or Dubai listing is not a reliable substitute. The practical distinction here is the Italian-Mediterranean menu and The Galleria location, not a claim that the brand name guarantees a particular standard of service.
The Abu Dhabi menu covers carpaccio, pasta, risotto, pizza, meat and seafood. That range is a reason to consider it for a group with different tastes. It is also a reason to keep the order focused: decide whether the table wants individual mains or several shared dishes. Ordering across every section because it sounds impressive is an easy way to lose control of the bill without improving the meal.
The Setting: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
The restaurant is in The Galleria’s Luxury Collection, Level 2, South Plaza. The mall directory identifies parking Section E. A waterfront terrace is part of the venue, but a terrace description does not guarantee an outdoor table with every reservation. State the preference when booking and ask whether it is confirmed. For guests with access requirements, check the route from parking or the drop-off point to the restaurant before arriving.
Novikov advertises live entertainment, including piano and DJs. Choose the evening programme deliberately: it adds a reason to stay, but it changes the kind of dinner you are arranging. For a business discussion, ask which area and sitting is best suited to conversation. For a social evening, check the programme for your date. Do not assume a piano performance runs through every meal or that the room is equally quiet at every hour.
Menu choices: building an order
Drinks: agree the plan before ordering
Ask for the current non-alcoholic drinks menu and choose the drinks that fit the actual food order. Decide whether you want one welcome drink, drinks with each course or simply water with lunch. That choice matters to the total bill. For a group splitting the food, agree how drinks will be paid before ordering; a shared food order does not mean everyone has the same drinks budget.
Starters: Beef Carpaccio and Novikov Burrata
The official menu lists beef carpaccio and Classic Novikov Burrata. They offer a straightforward choice between a raw meat starter and a cheese-based one. For a table sharing both, ask about portions before adding another starter. For anyone avoiding raw meat or dairy, choose another section rather than assuming a dish can be adapted automatically. Order the starter that fits the rest of dinner, rather than treating both as compulsory.
Our preference for a mixed table is to avoid making every starter rich. If you have already chosen a risotto or substantial meat main, a lighter opening leaves more room for the rest of dinner. For a two-person dinner, agree whether you want one shared starter or separate plates. That simple choice makes the portion and budget decisions easier.
Pasta and risotto
Mushroom and Truffle Risotto is on the current menu. It is the richer choice in this section; a pasta order provides a different format. Consider whether you want it as your main course or as part of a shared meal, then ask about the portion. Choose it when mushroom-and-truffle flavours are the reason for your order. For a lighter meal, look at the fish or salad sections instead.
Choose the risotto because you want that dish, not because a guide tells you it is essential. For a first visit, pasta and risotto are alternative decisions rather than a compulsory pair. A table with different appetites can order separately; a group sharing needs to agree quantities. Check the actual dishes before comparing the bill with a lunch package, since a large premium order and a set lunch are different meals.
Main Course: Veal Chop Milanese
Veal Chop Milanese is listed among the chef’s specials. It is a breaded veal option, distinct from the menu’s mushroom-sauce and black-truffle veal choices. Choose by the preparation you want and ask whether a side is included. We would not order extra potatoes automatically before clarifying that point. The different preparations also have different prices, so choose the dish itself before agreeing on extras.
For another main, compare the current menu’s grilled fish and meat choices. A group does not need to order the same preparation unless a particular package requires it. These are alternatives to check rather than a claim that every item is always available:
- Grilled salmon fillet
- Argentinian rib-eye steak
- Baby chicken
Dessert and coffee
Tiramisu and an espresso are a familiar way to finish an Italian meal, but use the current dessert and drinks menus for the actual choices and prices. For a table that has ordered several rich dishes, sharing a dessert is a reasonable option. Agree it with the group instead of treating a full dessert course as compulsory. Keep the dessert budget separate from the food example below, which covers starters and mains.
How to choose the meal
| Decision | Our recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday meal | Compare the business lunch | A defined starting price makes the food budget easier to establish |
| Different appetites | Choose à la carte | Each diner can choose their own main rather than sharing one sequence |
| Special occasion | Confirm the table and extras | A terrace request and an agreed arrangement are different things |
| Quiet discussion | Ask about the area and programme | Live entertainment is part of the venue’s evening offer |
| Premium seafood | Agree the portion and price first | Some seafood-market items are priced by weight |
Who should book Novikov?
Our recommendation: choose Novikov for the Italian-Mediterranean menu and Al Maryah Island location. The weekday lunch gives a clear starting budget; à la carte lets a mixed group order independently. For a celebration, confirm the table, menu and extras first. A straightforward meal needs fewer arrangements; a special occasion needs the details agreed beforehand.
The strongest reason to choose it over a single-cuisine specialist is the range of food formats. Pasta, pizza and seafood give a group options without moving between restaurants. The trade-off is that a broad menu requires more decisions: sharing or individual mains, premium additions or a simpler order, lunch package or evening dining. Make those choices before booking and the recommendation becomes practical instead of relying on a vague promise of luxury.
For an ADGM lunch or a shopping-day meal, compare the weekday offer first. For a dinner with visitors, the terrace and evening programme are different reasons to consider the venue. For a quiet meeting, ask for an appropriate area rather than assuming the later music will suit the conversation. A good booking begins with the purpose of the meal; the restaurant name alone cannot decide that for you.
Novikov appears in the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi. That listing is not a star and is not our own review score. Budget from the selected menu rather than a universal “AED 500 for two”. The worked order below shows how quickly particular choices can exceed that figure before drinks or dessert, and why a published lunch starting price is a different comparison.
Practical Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi |
| Cuisine | Italian-Mediterranean |
| Best For | Occasion dinners, business lunches, date night |
| Reservations | Recommended; book via novikovabudhabi.ae |
| Dress Code | Confirm current restrictions with reservations |
| Parking | Available at The Galleria |
Novikov Abu Dhabi FAQs
Where is Novikov Abu Dhabi located?
At The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Level 2 of the Luxury Collection, South Plaza. Use the restaurant’s own location and booking route to arrange the visit. If you are driving, the mall directory identifies parking Section E. For a fixed-time dinner, choose the route and arrival point before leaving rather than allowing a general mall address to send your driver to the wrong entrance.
What type of food does Novikov Abu Dhabi serve?
Italian-Mediterranean dishes, including pasta, risotto, pizza, carpaccio, fish and meat. The Abu Dhabi menu is the relevant one: other Novikov branches and cafés have different formats. For allergies or dietary restrictions, check the whole order with the team, including sauces and shared dishes. Do not assume the presence of a vegetarian dish means every preparation can be made vegan.
Do I need to make a reservation at Novikov Abu Dhabi?
Use the official reservations link or call +971 2 563 2937. A reservation gives you a clear plan for the party and service, but there is no evidenced universal lead time or guarantee that a particular terrace table will be allocated. Keep the confirmation and check any deposit, cancellation deadline and group-menu requirement before finalising the rest of the evening.
Is Novikov Abu Dhabi good for a business dinner?
It is a useful option because the venue is on Al Maryah Island and advertises a weekday business lunch. For an actual meeting, ask about seating, music and the time available for the meal. A lunch label does not guarantee silence or a specific service speed. Choose it when the menu and location suit the group; make privacy or timing requirements part of the booking rather than an assumption.
What is the dress code at Novikov Abu Dhabi?
Read the current dress requirements supplied by the venue or booking confirmation. Dress for the meal you are arranging, and ask about any uncertain item before arrival. If you are arriving straight from work, a shopping trip or the beach, check the policy before finalising your plans rather than assuming every outfit will be accepted.
What is cotoletta alla milanese?
A Milanese veal chop is a breaded veal preparation. Novikov’s current chef’s-specials menu lists it separately from veal with mushroom sauce and veal with black truffle. Choose the version you want rather than assuming the names describe one interchangeable dish. Compare whether you want the breaded preparation or one with a sauce. If you are sharing, ask how the chop will be served and whether a side comes with it.
Published menu prices and a worked bill
Facts checked on 9 October 2026. The official menu download lists Beef Carpaccio at AED 120, Classic Novikov Burrata at AED 110, Mushroom & Truffle Risotto at AED 245 and Veal Chop Milanese at AED 255. Ordering all four totals AED 730 before drinks, dessert or other additions. That is an example order, not a recommendation that every pair needs that much food. Seafood-market prices can be quoted per 100g, so ask for the portion weight and total before agreeing to a whole fish.
The weekday lunch starts at AED 148 per person, Monday–Friday, noon–3:30pm. Two starting-price lunches total AED 296 before extras. This is the first format we would compare for a weekday visit; it gives a much clearer starting point than an unsourced dinner estimate.
Hours and direct contact
The restaurant lists noon–1am Sunday–Thursday and noon–2am Friday–Saturday. Those are venue hours; ask about the last food order for a late arrival. Contact +971 2 563 2937 or use the booking link on the official site.
