Leave space for dessert

It also boasts a famous cuisine that churns out a delectable spread of breads, pizzas, pastas and salads to feed hungry tummies across the planet. So an invitation to sample delicacies at an Italian restaurant was entirely irresistible.

Named after the wonder Italian herb Oregano, this tiny outlet in Media City didn’t disappoint our tastebuds. Walls lined with colourful vases and spiced oils, and minimalist furniture set provide the perfect talking points for a good conversation.
As soon as we were seated, our friendly waiter guided us through the menu, helping us pick our starters.

We kicked off with Frito Misto di Mare, a deep-fried seafood platter of calamari and prawns that proved a crunchy treat. Bruschetta Rustica, soft pizza breads dressed with slabs of mozzarella, rocket, tomato and pesto turned out to be subtle, yet striking. The light flavouring was a perfect precedent for what was in store for us.

For the main course the menu opened up a wide range of options, and it took some amount of plotting and planning to zero in on Spaghetti con Gamberetti and the chef’s special Braised Short Ribs. The spaghetti concoction of tomato sauce, prawns and kalamata olives was remarkable.

But the star dish of the evening was definitely the Angus beef short ribs on a bed of soft fettucini. The meat pieces were cooked to succulent melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Soon the spaghetti was pushed to one side and forgotten as we focused our full attention on the fettucini wonder dish.

After the heady meal, we took a break and chit-chatted for a while to give our tummies some time to recuperate and then ordered Tiramisu and Torta di Cioccolato. Both arrived in no time, towering on a white plate. The helpings were huge! We were determined to work our way through, but had to take a few breaks before finally ending the meal.

The tiramisu was one of the best I’ve tasted in Dubai; the large cheesy chunk was a delight. The slab of chocolate sponge filled with white chocolate could tip your bathroom scale in the wrong direction, but was worth the indulgence. We signed off with a cappuccino, which missed out on points for its machine touch. We suggest skipping the machine for fresh coffee! Apart from this minor observation, this Italian eatery is a job well done.