If you are craving some delicious Italian food and wondering where you can find the best Italian restaurant in Riyadh then you are in the right place.
Riyadh is home to people from all around the world but leaving your hometown doesn’t mean forgetting how the food tasted.
The city is filled with a variety of restaurants including Indian, Korean, and even seafood restaurants.
If you are looking for a plate of pasta or maybe a wood-fried Pizza then Riyadh has got you covered.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at three amazing spots
These restaurants have brought the authentic flavors of Italy into Riyadh. We will talk about their ambiance, service, and prices and give you an honest review of how we felt while dining at these restaurants in Riyadh.
Let’s get going, shall we?
Eataly: A Taste of Italy in Riyadh
If you want a cozy atmosphere and friendly staff then Eataly is your next destination for Italian food in Riyadh.
This restaurant offers a dining experience similar to a traditional Italian trattoria.
The options on the menu are unlimited and you can find everything from Pizza to pasta to traditional Italian dishes.
THE BEST PART?
If you love healthy food then you will love this place because they offer vegan pasta, pizza, and a range of healthy salads.
If you don’t feel like going through the busy roads of Riyadh you can order directly through their website or any food delivery app in Riyadh.
Location:
Almas Plaza Al Malik An Nasir, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12223, Saudi Arabia.
Must Try Italian Dishes At Eataly
We tried different dishes at this restaurant to make our review fully transparent because sometimes a restaurant might master one dish while others do not taste good.
The dishes that we would recommend you try are:
- Grilled Seabass
- Rigatoni Bolognese
- Classic Bruschetta
- Penne with Basil Pesto
- Margherita Pizza
- Tiramisu
Positive Reviews
I went over a hundred reviews about Eataly and the common theme in positive reviews was about the freshness of the food, the quality of ingredients used, and the authentic flavors of the food.
Grilled Salmon and Penne with Basil Pesto are the most talked about in positive reviews so you know these are the best out there.
A few positive reviews also mentioned that the overall atmosphere was relaxing and the staff is trained to give you a warm welcome.
Negative Reviews
Negative reviews are mostly mixed for restaurants and so was the case here.
Most negative reviews for this seafood restaurant revolved around items like the Margherita pizza and spaghetti being too overpriced.
Some customers mentioned that the seating was uncomfortable and left them with cramps. Not many reviews mentioned the taste of the food so I think they win there.
Our Experience
Our visit to Eataly was fun and impressive.
When I entered the restaurant I could smell the fresh Italian food straight away. The staff welcomed me nicely and the seating was just ok but could have been better.
For the starters, I tried Classic Bruschetta which had a niche flavor but the tomatoes felt like they were just not juicy enough.
The grilled seabass was perfect and exactly what I wanted to try. It had a nice crisp exterior and tender flavor in every bite.
The prices are high so I would expect a bit more on the interior design to make the place more comfortable and premium.
Overall I would rate this place as a 7 out of 10 for service, ambience, and food.
Il Baretto: Italian Food In Riyadh
This is probably the oldest Italian restaurant in Riyadh. This restaurant was founded in 2011 by a group of Italians. Ever since then this restaurant has been running successfully.
If a restaurant has been running for the past 13 years then you know it is special.
This place is ideal for celebrations and a nice relaxing dinner with your loved ones or guests.
Talking about the ambience this place has nailed it with its seating and overall lighting.
Il Baretto is more on the premium side and with traditional Italian dishes like pasta they also offer some unique items such as scorpion steak and lamb shank tagine.
Location:
KAFD 5.08 KAFD, 2822 – 6591, Riyadh 13519, Saudi Arabia
Menu Items to Try
- Home-made Bread Basket
- Tomato Bruschetta
- Vitello Tonnato
- Beef Carpaccio with Black Truffle
- Gnocchi Alla Bolognese
- Minestrone Al Pesto
- Veal Milanese
Positive Aspects
The restaurant has received a lot of praise for its, diverse menu, and premium environment.
Most positive reviews highlighted some dishes like the Beef Carpaccio with Black Truffle and the Gnocchi Ripieni Al Tartufo.
Another thing that impressed people is that the restaurant also offers a variety of vegetarian options which means that there is something for everyone on the menu.
Negative Aspects
I went through the negative reviews on google and other platforms and the only thing I could find was the poor customer service.
Everyone is satisfied with the food but most of the negative reviews for this restaurant mention that the staff is not cooperative.
They do not give the due attention to diners and do not help them serve the food properly.
Apart from these a few people also mentioned that the drinks served are only 100ml which is not justified for the price charged for those.
Our Experience
I have to agree with the reviews. While the environment and food impressed the service quality was not as expected. The food had no problems and I would say was the most authentic Italian food I ever tried.
The waiters seem like they are just there for no reason. They won’t help you decide on any dishes and you will have to call them again and again to take the order.
Apart from that everything else was just perfect. If you visit this place just keep in mind the service quality.
Overall, I would rate this place 9 out of 10 for ambiance and food but 5 out of 10 for their service.
Piatto Italian Food
If you live in Riyadh then this Italian restaurant should be on your list for sure.
Piatto has branches all over Saudi Arabia and is loved by people because of the meal sizes and prices they offer.
Their menu is famous because of the different Italian dishes they offers like Pizza, Pasta, deserts and a variety of Italian salads.
But that’s not it.
They also offer different flavors of coffee and that is a must try if you visit this place.
Piatto also organizes live music events in the restaurant from time to time so if you want a break from your busy life in Riyadh just visit them and you will feel refreshed.
Location:
2587-2605 Northern Ring Branch Rd, Al Maseef 13312, Riyadh 11464, Saudi Arabia.
12451 Al Sonobar, King Abdullah Dt., Riyadh 12451, Saudi Arabia.
Must Try Items
Piatto Feast
Chicken Parmigiana
Grilled Rosemary Salmon
Chicken Shawarma Pizza
Truffle Mac & Cheese Balls
Tiramisu
Positive reviews
I went through over 500 positive reviews and most of them are about food, ambience and staff.
In terms of dishes I saw that two of their dishes the Baked Ziti and Lasagna got a lot of praise from customers.
People also like the option to sit upstairs or at ground floor which a very few restaurants in Riyadh offer.
Unique decorations and friendly staff is the main reason why a lot of people come to visit Piatto with their families.
Negative Reviews
Not every aspect of restaurant can be perfect isn’t it?
Negative reviews were not actually about the food. The main reason of the majority of negative reviews was that their food was served late. Long waiting times have been a common thing in negative reviews.
Another thing that most people mentioned was that their washrooms were not really clean. This is a big thing because people will assume the restaurant’s hygiene based on these things.
Some reviewers also mentioned that the temperature is too cold but I don’t think that is something really big because it can be controlled easily.
Our Experience
I visited Piatto with high expectation and kept in mind the positive and negative reviews.
For the food I tried Piatto feast and Chicken Parmigiana.
Both of these were nothing but perfect. The chicken was tender and the sauce used was delicious.
The wait time was a bit long compared to other restaurants I tried but I wouldn’t count that as a big issue at least not for me.
The reviews about the cleanness were a bit exaggerated because I found everything to be normal but I would add that the overall look can be enhanced with minor touch ups.
Overall for the food, ambience and service I would rate this place a solid 9 out of 10.
Conclusion
So that was my opinion about the best Italian restaurant in Riyadh. I tried many restaurants before making this list and I think if these three restaurants made it to the list then they are definitely worth trying.
These were the best Italian restaurants I have tried in Riyadh but everyone has a different taste.
That is clear from the reviews because some people have different taste and attention to detail.
Try these Italian restaurants and let me know what your experience was like.
