Piatto

Piatto is another Italian Restaurant located along the Northern Ring Road.  It's huge sign is not easy to miss. We've been here a couple of times. It's quite roomy, set up like an Italian piazza, but indoors.

Little water fountains are spread throughout the open areas, upstairs and down.  The brickwork reminds me of a pizza oven

La Vela

I just finished a meal at La Vela that was a little disappointing. I ordered beef, medium rare, with pepper sauce and veges. The sauce was peppery. The veges crunchy - just how I like them. The baby carrots were lovely and sweet.  The beef - overdone!  I ate it, what good Kiwi wouldn't, but overdone meat just spoils a meal, don't you think?

Fortunately, they have yummy sweets, and I can be turned by yummy sweets and good coffee...

 ---this mousse made me almost forget all about my mains.


Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Vapiano

Vapiano is on Tahalia, right next to Localiser Mall, is an Italian Restaurant.

The wooden staircase curving its way to the Vapiano dining area is an indication of the setting you'll meet once at the top - casual, relaxed, open, stylish

The blackboard above the kitchen with its chalkboard art and food related sayings and proverbs provides a bit of a talking point.  "Never eat more than you can lift" or 'The belly rules the mind".  I especially liked 'Don't let love interfere with your appetite".  All very relevant to how we approach food and this night, with Mr Finland paying, we were hungry.

Being a person who loves wood, I quite liked the whole set up with the wooden floor and, around the corner from the open eating area, little wooden dining corners with various plant settings - from fresh flowers to young saplings - adorning the center of the tables.

Being Italian, Vapiano serves up, among other things, pizza and pasta.  On a shelf in the kitchen are a selection of pasta's available.  We decided to try a pizza and a few other delectable nibbles on bread.

It was all quite scrumptious and fresh and tasty and, as I said to Hubster, 'Why do we not come in here more often.

Mr Finland, after eating his fill, lay back on the roomy bench style seats and contemplated the bill.  He needn't have worried.  At Vaipano, along with quick and friendly service and fabulous food, came reasonable prices.

Directions to Vapiano

View Dining Out In Riyadh in a larger map


Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Centro

Centro on Tahalia is much nicer to eat in than it looks from the outside,

Its decor is red and black and there is a large television down one end that tends to play the latest football matches, so I can only presume it is a sports diner with class.

There's a mix of dining tables and more relaxing coffee tables all with very comfortable seating.  The boothes in the family section are divided from the open tables by black string curtains though it is also possible to close the very thick red brocade curtains for even more intimacy under the minimal lighting. 

The tables are always nicely set with a small but lovely floral arrangements. The menu is mix of Italian and general western. The other night our group had Calamari starters and a rack of lamb, chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese and a pizza for our mains. All very nicely cooked. The coffee also meets my exacting standards.

Centro, on Tahalia, is a pleasant dining experience, so pleasant that we tend to go back often.

Da Pino's

Da Pino's is a very nice Italian in the Al Khozarma Center.

The center piece of the Singles section, through which you must pass to access the Family Section if you're of the fairer gender, is an excellent salad and antipasto bar.   We always take nibbles from here because there's usually a reasonable selection and everything is quite tasty.

The decor at Da Pino's gives the impression of an Italian patio overlooking a piazza with brightly colored patio tables and chairs adorned with bunches of flowers in small white vases.  The family section walls are adorned with murals reflecting Italian life and love of food.  The large mirrors on the wall enhance the brightness and add a feeling of spaciousness.  

You can choose to be seated in an alcove for an intimate dinner - very cosy - or take a smaller table with a view of the cooks as they prepare your meal in the open kitchen.

I loved the steak with mushroom sauce.
Hubster thought the risotto was the best he has had here in Riyadh.

For dessert, take another trek out to the Single Section to view the sweets on offer.  I have difficulty going past the Tiramisu because it's my favorite dessert (apart from my mother's home baked apple pie, of course).  The coffee served to end our meal was perfect.

We enjoy Da Pino's when we go.  It's a nice, quiet, get away from it all kind of place.
The service is attentive.
The ambience is relaxed.
The food is delicious.

Squisito

On King Fahad road, next to Novotel Hotel and just past the date shop, is Squisito.

The entrance is tucked away in a corner just past the lovely outdoor setting with a view of Kingdom Tower that the men can enjoy.  A doorman is usually outside in a bright orange vest to invite you in to the Family Section which is upstairs.

Hubby and I have differing views on Squisto.

Squisto Family Section is an interesting collection of curves folded into boothes and little lounge areas decorated with a mix of bright orange and brown seating separated from other diners by draping orange curtains, textured class or hanging moulded wood panels. 

There are a couple of areas for large groups, roomy boothes for the smaller parties with seat backings in a variety of shapes, that could be good for a back massage, or there are tables for intimate twosomes. 

Squisito is Italian and has a good selection of Pizza and Pasta.   Also on the menu is seafood and salads.  Being partial to vege's I ordered the grilled vegetables and they were nicely done.  Any place that can cook King Prawns to perfection gets ten points in my book, too. 

If Tiramisu is on the menu I cannot go past it and in this instance I was not dissappointed.  The coffee also met my exacting standards.  All the food was very nicely presented.

In terms of the food, I thought Squisito was worth going.  Hubster, however, has become accustomed to quiet nights out in Riyadh and the noise level was not what he wanted after a hard day in the office.  The sound seemed to travel in the restaurant suggesting the acoustics were not quite right, or maybe it was just a loud crowd.

The other patrons were also smoking which is really off putting for we non-smokers and the vapours were thick in the restaurant, suggesting air extraction needs looking at.

Regardless of what was going on across the way I got the impression Squisito were trying for a relaxed yet fine dining experience, which may explain why the price was a little on the expensive side. 

Pizza Roma

Pizza Roma, another Italian, is tucked away just off Tahaliah. It's easiest to get to from Mussah ibn Nasser, turn right at the fork and keep an eye out for Cafe Roma, which is a men only eatery. Pizza Roma is at the other end of the parking lot.

You'll be presented with a lovely selection of breads and dips on being seated which you could almost have as your meal!! The menu includes pizza and fresh pasta and is one of the few places I’ve found that does Antipasto if you only what something light. Plus the coffee is good.

The decor is a collection of decorative old pieces against wood - simple but nice which initially reminded me of an old italian wine cellar.

It's a smaller place, so be mindful of two things - first, it pays to book on busy nights. Second, there is not a lot of wall space so you may find yourself seated in the middle of the restaurant out in the open - more reminescent of a busy Italian home makers kitchen than condusive to cosyness.

Amore

Amore's on Tahaliah is my favorite Italian. The pasta is fresh made and they are one of the few places I have found in Riyadh that actually knows how to make salad.

There is not a lot of room upstairs so go outside normal Riyadh eating hours (ie late) and the deco is variations on black and white, with tulips for contrast.  How is that Italian?  Hmmm...not sure. Regardless, the food never fails me and the service is excellent.

La Vela

La Vela in Centria Mall on the corner of Tahalia and Ulaya is my choice of Italian for coffee and dessert after a wander up Tahalia Street.

The entrance can seem a little dark and mysterious, though the sweets displayed in the counter soon take your mind off that.  I find it hard to walk past the selection without stopping to go 'Mmmmmmm, that looks yummy!'  It helps that if we ask for a tester taste of something that looks delectable, we get one.  These sweets go perfectly with coffee, although they are not the only things  on the menu.

Further into La Vela you'll find a small dining area, a larger space for relaxing in comfy lounge chairs behind romantic strand curtains, the kind you love to run your hands through, and my favourite, an outdoor deck with wicker terrace furniture.

La Vela is open for breakfast (at 10am) - we enjoyed omelets and a spot of toast with juice and coffee - through to dinner (Glenn thought the chicken risotto was sensational).  

I like La Vela.  It's got a relaxing feel to it and they have managed to create an airy space with views out through large paned windows that gives the impression of  looking out toward an Italian terrace. 

Pascucci Cafe

Pascucci on Mussah ibn Nasser is my favorite coffee and tiramisu place.  They have a large range of variations on coffee and mocha - most with cream - I have not yet tried them all.  The cuisine is Italian with a decent range of sandwiches, pasta and pizza.  It pays to go Pascucci with a big appetite - the servings are generous.

The booths are a combination of wooden units, plastic bamboo reeds and screens.  The seats are soft, large and comfy.  Perfect for lounging.

What keeps me coming back is they know how to do a good salad – a rarity in Riyadh.  Take a torch though, its dark as!  My favourite seats are by the window - there's more light.   

The venue on Mussah ibn Nasser is for family only.  The male Pascucci is down the road and round the corner.  And if you fancy Queen Ann style decor try Pascucci at Panaroma Mall.

Pascucci Panorama

Pascucci Panorama