With black and white images of the old country scattered across the walls and a rustic charm in the homely décor, dining at Sicilia is a laidback affair where they won't mind you rocking up in your jeans and flip flops to get stuck into comforting portions of spaghetti.
Do make a bit of effort though, as with lovely plate presentation going on, it's never a great night out when the food is better dressed than you are. Benefiting from the continuous bustle of the Ibn Battuta Gate's always buzzy, spacious lobby area - which brings the atmos into the split dining room - you can also opt to dine out amongst the impressive Arabic-style lanterns which dangle from the ceiling.
The menu is huge and varied, with classics such as Bruschette and Prosciutto popping up in the antipasti, alongside the chef-recommended Polpo Arrostito of caramelised octopus, sautéed potato, tomato confit and fresh thyme - a succulent, not-even-close-to- chewy portion of Octo-tentacle that flaked away in the mouth like tenderised meat. Find light bites too, such as Lightly smoked salmon and Cured beef Carpaccio, which came accompanied by those lightly salted crisps that Europeans do so well. Pizza, pasta, meat and fish options follow, all in generous portions.
We opted for the Spaghetti alla chitarra con aragosta e pepperoni arrostiti (square spaghetti with lobster, fire-roasted bell peppers and vine-ripened cherry tomato sugo). What arrived was a plate literally groaning with al dente spaghetti, lightly coated in a flavour-packed sauce, along with big meaty hunks of lobster still in its shell to be picked clean at will. Also enjoying the Grilled tuna with caponata and oregano pesto, the hefty chunk of grilled tuna came perched on a tomato, aubergine and pepper-packed caponata, which was just perfect for spooning onto the mini table loaves to be enjoyed as high-end country finger food. With red mullet, sea bream, sea bass and jumbo prawns all on the menu, cooking options vary from grilled to casseroled and baked, all of which will appeal to the healthy eater in you. Oh, and if you order the Red mullet casserole do let us know what the accompanying Artichoke crazy water is all about.
The meat dishes are traditional, from Braised veal cheeks to Rack of lamb and Corn-fed chicken, whilst pizzas boast classic toppings on crispy bases, which also come Sicilian style.
Dessert? We had no room left, which, naturally, didn't stop us. After pages of choices throughout the rest of the menu, the sweets are pared back, with just four to choose from. The Chocolate hazelnut pudding with white chocolate ice cream proved to be a light-as-a-feather take on a classic fondant, complete with gooey centre, whilst the Saffron apple terrine offered a refreshing alternative of succulent apples. The standout is the Tiramisu, a dish of coffee-spiked lady fingers and light mascarpone, topped with a thick dusting of cocoa powder that, when you first dig in, goes so deep, you'll be in danger of losing your spoon.|
Location Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, adjacent to Ibn Battuta Mall
Timing 12.30pm-2.30pm; 7pm-11pm, daily
Tel 04 444 5613
Tast trio: Best Pizza
Pompeii Italian Restaurant and Café
With an open pizza oven at the heart of the restaurant, exposed bricks and dark wood finishing, this new JLT spot is the perfect place to head if you’re looking for a quality thin-crust pizza, without the gourmet price tag – expect to pay between Dh30 and Dh45. Every choice on the menu is available to be taken home, and there are also meat dishes, pastas and salads available. This authentic little find is well worth a visit.
Location Cluster T, Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Timing 8am-midnight, daily
Tel 04 453 9390
Al Fresco
For some of the most authentic Sicilian food in the city, Al Fresco is the place to go. The relaxed spot famously serves up some of the best pizzas in the city, with thin crusts, fresh and simple tomato bases and quality ingredients. True, it’s not actually al fresco – it’s in an upside-down boat – but it would be too hot for that now anyway, and when it comes to the perfect slice, what does it matter?
Location Crowne Plaza Dubai,
Sheikh Zayed Road
Timing Fri-Wed 12pm-11pm; Thu 12pm-11.30pm
Tel 04 331 1111
La Mamma
Never has the saying, ‘As mama used to make,’ rung so true. The generously sized pizzas at La Mamma boast thin crusts that are crispy, yet still deliciously soft and chewy. We love anything that features their famous spicy sauce, but our favourite option has to be the simple but fantastic Emiliana – tomato sauce blends with mozzarella, Parma ham, rocket leaves and Parmesan shavings. Bella! Delicious.
Location Sheraton Abu Dhabi Timing 12pm-3.30pm, 7pm-11.30pm, daily
Tel 02 677 3333
