Simply Abu Dhabi III

With its smart, contemporary interior with hardwood floors and cream and brown furnishings, Filini provides a stylish and inviting setting for meeting with friends or family and catching up over a delicious freshly prepared meal. With an open kitchen, huge pizza oven and oversized bronze lights a sleek, classic interior creates the ideal ambience for an evening spent sampling beautifully presented dishes of Italian food. However, having heard so much about the peaceful outdoor area we were keen to book a table outside and as we arrived at Filini on such a beautiful evening, it was definitely the right choice for us. We quickly appreciated why it is so renowned – with a romantic fountain and breathtaking views over the rolling Yas Links golf course leading onto sand-and-turquoise- marbled mangroves and the Arabian Gulf beyond, we had high hopes for our meal. Filini excels in authentic Italian fare and an imaginative seasonal menu packed with tempting antipasti, pizza, pasta, meat and fish dishes didn’t disappoint. Filini restaurant is renowned for its signature Italian cuisine and keeps drawing in the diners despite the prolific nature of Italian eateries on Yas Island. Head chef Thomas Marchi is a bona fide Italian chef with the accent to match and his wealth of experience of cooking across the globe is what makes his menu so unique.As we sipped our drinks and tried to decide which of the tempting dishes to go for, we enjoyed olive bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. Enthusiastic and welcoming staff are more than happy to recommend delicious starters, tasty mains and sensational deserts and are we glad we listened! We started with air-cured beef with parmesan which provided the ideal taster for our main course. The fresh tagliatelli with pesto proves that sometimes the simplest things in life are the best – Jordana described it as pure paradise on a plate – high praise indeed for a basic pasta dish! The potato gnocchi is one of Thomas Marchi’s personal recommendations and who am I to argue with a Chef of such standing? I decided to go for it and it was incredible. Fresh salads were the perfect accompaniment to our delicious Italian meal. But that’s what Filini do so well – simple, classic Italian dishes prepared to perfection. Coupled with a fast friendly service with no unnecessary airs and graces and you have the ideal combination for the perfect dining scenario. FILINI the radisson blu 55 SIMPLY ABU DHABI After such a scrumptious meal we couldn’t resist a dessert, but there were so many to choose from. Then the sweet pizza and chocolate cream caught our eye – not something we’ve ever come across before – so we simply had to try it. Are we glad we did, it was incredible. Wholesome and flavoursome – in just two words we have summed up our meal, yet the Filini experience offers so much more and one that we can’t recommend strongly enough that you try for yourself. Italian dishes created from simple fresh ingredients seem to be the key to Filini’s huge success. The ambience has to take some credit for the popularity of this fantastic restaurant too. Having enjoyed a meal outdoors with the magnificent views over the golf course and city beyond – al-fresco dining at its finest – we can see why diners return to Filini time and time again to try new pizza and pasta dishes that change with the seasons. Far exceeding all our expectations of authentic Italian cuisine you can taste the knowledge and passion behind the menu and believe us when we say it tastes divine. A&J would like to express our gratitude toThomas Marchi and his team for a tremendous evening. We hope to visit again soon. Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Contact: 00 971 (0)2 656 2000