Fun at Fratelli Lounge
Published: Jun 30, 2010 13:40 Updated: Jun 30, 2010 19:41
Before stepping into Fratelli Lounge, I was honestly expecting an Italian restaurant. I really had no basis for this thought except for the actual word “Fratelli,” which seemed quite Italian to me. As it turned out, I placed my focus on the wrong word, as it would have been much more appropriate to have focused on “Lounge.”
If I had to describe the general décor and ambience of Fratelli Lounge in one word, it would have to be: Trendy. The lighting is dim with colorful red and blue lights highlighting different areas. The artwork on the walls is very diverse, modern, contemporary and cool. The waiters are well dressed in snazzy suits, and the lower tier servers are dressed in festive football jerseys to accommodate the World Cup game that was on. Imagine a Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Café that is less tacky and more suave. The only downside to the atmosphere was the smoky air from the popular selection of shishas. At the beginning of our stay, it started out fine; but toward the end, it got rather hazy in the room. Considering the indoor setting, I would only recommend that they improve the air ventilation for those who choose not to partake in smoking. On the other hand, it was a Thursday night, so perhaps that sort of thing is to be expected.
The food certainly could not be described as Italian. The list is less of any specific nationality and could more accurately be described as the global citizen of menus, from Mediterranean and North American to Asian and Arabic — even the butter was from New Zealand. Although I like this variety of feasts, be warned that the indecisive may very well have a difficult time making a decision.
As we sat down, we were greeted with complimentary bread and a variety of green and black olive tapenades, all of which were quite pleasant. We began with the Combo Starters to try a variety of appetizers. This comes with onion rings, fried shrimp, fried calamari, and BBQ chicken wings. For some reason, the calamari was replaced with chicken nuggets. Although quite a disappointment at first, the nuggets turned out to be quite tasty, so we didn’t complain. The chicken of the wings and nuggets seemed to be of good quality. The BBQ sauce was also quite good and worthy of finger licking, but in the end it was all your typical variety of fried goods.
For our entrée, we had the Goat Cheese Salad, the Chicken Ravioli, and the Oriental Beef. All three of us were happy with our dishes, but none of us were raving. I liked the variety of greens served with the salad; it was a nice change from the more typical crunchy romaine. The Oriental Beef was served with a nice and tangy sauce with a good variety of peppers and onions. While the quality of the beef was good, it was not the “melt in your mouth” type. The ravioli was served with a heavy white sauce that my dinner mate seemed content with, but once again I never heard him humming in delight. It seems to me that with such a wide variety of dishes, they pursue a path of doing most things well, instead of fewer and more specific things great. At the same time, I certainly did not get the chance to try everything, so it is perfectly possible that I missed out on their specialty.
The service was satisfactory but seemed to be lacking in coordination. They were all friendly enough and our food and drinks arrived at a good pace. The main problem was that they wouldn’t always arrive at the same time. Two drinks would arrive while the third lagged behind. In the case of our dinner, the salad arrived significantly before the other two dishes. While it’s not a huge complaint to have, it’s always nice to start things off at the same time. That way, nobody is left awkwardly waiting.
The greatest prize and true incentive to Fratelli Lounge is the social atmosphere. The hipness of the establishment does seem more appropriate for the younger crowd — older folks may be less inclined toward all the flash. If you’re looking for some great food and a relaxing and serene time, it may not be the best choice. It’s a place you go visit with your friends while you chat over snacks, drinks and shisha. When fun is the focus of your night, Fratelli Lounge would certainly be a great option.
Fratelli Lounge is located on Amir
Sultan St. next to Sultan Mall, Jeddah.
