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.

Steaky's

Steaky's

I've decided to take back any negative indication I may have given about Steaky's.  The place is ok for steak.   The last couple of times we went the steak was beautifully cooked, though not huge - but size isn't everything, right? 

Hubby has tried the ribs twice - beef of course.  Once with the bone, once without.  It's taken him two attempts to decided that ribs that don't originally go 'oink' just do not make the grade.  This has more to do with his palate than with how the Steaky's crew cooks ribs which he admits are nice, they just aren't pork.

The branch of Steaky's we go to is just across the road from Jazeera Market, on Mussah ibn Nasser.  The family section is small and on they way you can look over to the chefs in the kitchen.

You also pass a board with information on how to cook steak which is an eye opening read if comments on your own steak cooking attempts have been less than complementary.  

All seating for families in our branch of Steaky's is booth - no open area.  There has, at times, also been background music playing.  Country and Western, Kenny Rogers. 

The meal has an option for a salad bar to select your own vegetables or the meals have vege's on the side.  We usually do both. 

Although there is dessert, we've never had it.  No particular reason why not other than the fact we've over-eaten our soup, salad and mains. 

If you're after a nice steak meal in a smaller more intimate setting, then yes, come to Steaky's.

Pardon Cafe

Pardon Café is our favourite lunch place, largely because of its proximity to Hubsters work.

To find it head down Ulaya from Uruba Street. Turn left at Hollandi bank ladies branch. It's just along the street a little.   You can't miss the pretty garden with sculptured vessel and bowl just outside.

Pardon Cafe has asian influenced cuisine though it is possible to buy a nice breakfast omlette as well.  Our favourite is the spicy chicken.  They also do a nice range of drink cocktails that are quite refreshing.

The table spaces downstairs are very spacious with large lounge like seats - perfect for small groups out for a bite.  Upstairs the foyer space gives the place a feeling of openness, that's until you sit down and they put up the cane screens to hide you from view.

Najd Dining

For traditional Saudi dining, Najd Village Restaurant is the place to go.

Apparently there are two Najd Restaurants. The one we went to was in Takasussi Street.  When Noor dropped us out front I had to ask him where it was because the front is quite unassuming.  No blaring advertisment in neon announcing it's existence which is not a criticism.  In fact, the lack of flashing neon in this city is something I like about it, though it is slowl,y but surely, creeping in.

The restaurant reflects the traditional mudhouses of the area and, as you enter, you find the walls adorned with traditional art, craft and wares.   The main lobby has more antiques and tidbits of interest to look at before heading to the eating areas which, for families, are out the back. 
Our friends had pre-ordered a private room.  Our shoes were left outside the door and there was more than sufficient space for we seven expats to spread our legs because the seating in our little space was traditional Saudi style - long, flat cushions on the floor with a leaner or two spaced here - and sitting cross-legged for many of us (moi included) doesn't happen easily. 

An empty fireplace occupied the back wall (we went to Najd in summer when fires are definately not required) and above it were shelves adorned with dullah (arabic coffee pots), weaved baskets and enamel tea pots reminiscent of days spent camping on the farm with billy's on the campfire, except these pots were painted with pretty patterns.  

The ceiling exposed typical materials of Najd yester-year -strips of wood beneath which thinner natural twine bound wood panels could be spotted.  It reminded me of tukutuku panels.

The evening began with qahwah and dates and a bit of chit chat about life and Saudi living. One of our crew was more au fait with the menu, and Arabic food in general, than the rest of us so was in charge of ordering.    Requests were put in for something lamb, something camel and something trraditional we've never had before.

The food, when it arrived, was served on the floor on a small weaved mat which meant manoeuvring our less than lithe bodies around the mat to serve our food into painted plastic plates.  The effort was worth it.

The food was delicious. 
I can highly recommend a night of traditional Najd dining.