Abu Dhabi: The Emporio Armani Caffe at The Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island is a chic eatery that is perfect for hanging out with friends.
The modern décor is well-spaced out, and the seating can accommodate big groups. Having said that, the cafe is in no way uninviting to romantic or discreet diners who want a quiet corner.
The authentic Italian dishes can also be savoured at the outdoor dining space that offers stunning views of the sea.
What strikes you soon after you sit down for dinner is their unending list of mocktails. It was difficult for my dining partner and me to zero in on their best drink, so we went by their recommendation.
What arrived at the table was a strawberry and litchi based mocktail served in a tall glass and it was lip-smacking good.
This was followed by items from the starters section. We went for the crispy breaded porcini mushroom served with mashed potatoes, rocket salad with parmesan shavings (Dh80) and Burrata Con Caponata or Sicilian aubergine salad (Dh85).
The breaded and deep-fried porcini mushrooms sitting on top of mashed potatoes looked appetising. However, it’s a tad heavy on the stomach so I went a little easy on it to reserve some space for my favourite – Burata Con Caponata (fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream). The melt-in-your-mouth cheese was divine. You would surely love it especially with aubergine and other mixed veggies and some juicy olives.
The Minestrone Emporio Armani soup that came next was loaded with vegetables. It was light and was perfect ahead of the main course.
Moving on, we were told that the pizzas at Armani are a hot pick among regulars at the restaurant. But to be honest, the Ortolana pizza (Dh70) we ordered did not have us drooling and it wasn’t the ingredients or the toppings we were complaining about. Though the pizzas had all the essentials – eggplant, roasted peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes under a handsome coat of mozzarella, what disappointed us was the water-logged crust. It was anything but crispy. But that was just a small glitch in an otherwise delectable dining experience.
We had no time to brood over it with the arrival of the star of the night. I could hear my partner almost squealing with delight as the first whiffs of Linguine wafted around us.
Linguine which means ‘little tongues’ in Italian is a kind of pasta that is a little wider than spaghetti.
Generously endowed with lobsters, calamari, shrimps and squids, the dish will have any seafood lover developing an enduring culinary crush over it.
The pasta was well-cooked and absorbed the slightly tangy sauce. It is an explosion of flavours in your mouth as you negotiated equal space for the crunchy seafood and the twirling Linguine.
The chocolate fondue and the Armani version of Tiramisu brought our dinner to a befitting end and we highly recommend you try it out.
We recommend: Burata Con Caponata, Linguine pasta
Details
Meal for two: Dh300-Dh450
Location: Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 02-676 6995
