Simply Abu Dhabi III

AMALFI LOVE AND ROMANCE Italian food is all about the love and romance and we love Italian food. Whether you stay at the Royal Meridien or not, Amaifi Restaurant comes highly recommended for an understated yet charming Italian dining experience. Delicious food and drink is the order of the day at Amalfi which offers a beautiful taste of Italy on the glistening banks of the Arabian Gulf. One of the city’s most popular Italian restaurants in Abu Dhabi, in a welcoming and informal atmosphere, Amalfi offers patrons background music and entertainment along with an inspired menu that lovingly injects an energetic contemporariness into every dish.Amalfi was awarded as the best Italian restaurant for food quality by Ospitalita (Italian Chamber of Commerce), so with this along with many other recommendations we were keen to try it out for ourselves. For authentic Italian cuisine in Abu Dhabi, Amalfi tempts diners with flavours from all over Italy – from the North to the South.This fine dining Italian restaurant is led by Chef Massimiliano Sperli. Originally from Sardinia he brings years of experience of working in kitchens in Italy with him and his passion for Italian cuisine shows in his beautifully constructed dishes. Arriving at Amalfi for a late lunch our first impression was of the effortlesstrue Italian style offered by our surroundings. Dark wood combined with modern decor and large open windows creates a relaxing dining environment with plenty of light streaming in. A choice of seating accommodates diners whatever their mood – dine outside overlooking the pool and palm trees, sit inside and appreciate the live music or even create a more intimate vibe by opting to reserve one of the rooms which are available for lunches or private functions. As the warm afternoon sun was shining, we decided to dine out on the terrace. On arriving, Jordana saw a chef rolling out fresh pasta dough behind the bar, so her mind was made up before we were even shown to our table. Her only consideration now, was which of the many mouth-watering varieties to go for. As we perused the menu, we were presented with delectable bread rolls, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sundried tomato paste and olives. It was the perfect appetiser and made us appreciate that the waiting staff were not rushing us to place an order. And believe us when we say you don’t want to be rushed – with so many tempting aromas and wonderfully presented salads, flavoursome pastas, a tempting choice of pizzas and even delicious duck – the only problem seems to be what to go for. Luckily, extremely helpful and attentive waiters are on hand to make recommendations and with a great choice of food at reasonable prices, this is a restaurant where you can truly relax and enjoy your food. 47 SIMPLY ABU DHABI There’s nothing quite like a pizza delivered fresh to your table directly from an authentic pizza oven and the wood fired oven provide the fresh pizzas with traditional rustic aromas for an authentic experience straight from Naples. Jordana was delighted to sample a tempting pizza tipped with colourful vegetables and tasty parma ham accompanied by a fresh salad. With a slightly bigger appetite when we arrived I decided to go for the waiter’s recommendation of stuffed fillet of duck with cheese tortellini and was not disappointed with my choice.A vanilla and lemon panna cotta with rich berry compote was the ideal finale to an extremely satisfying lunch. Open from 1230-1500 for lunch and 1900-2300 for dinner, whether you’re looking for a setting for a business lunch, a family meal or a romantic evening, Amalfi promises an Italian dining experience to remember. A&J would like to thank all at Amalfi for keeping this promise. Where: Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi Contact: 00 971(0)2 674 2020

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