Il Porto is a month-old prodigy to hit the shores of Jeddah’s Corniche. Located amongst the exuberant Park Hyatt chain of restaurants, Il Porto is marking its name as the next Little Italy.

Treat yourself to their salad bar that has more options than regular restaurants, like the pasta salad and mixed fruit salad variety. Their menu is restricted, denoting the verity that they have selective choices and prefer to specialize in them. An appetizer like garlic bread with cheese (SR25) and bruschettas layered with mozzarella, or your preference of cheese and tomatoes (SR35) are decent starters.

Il Porto has a family of three expert chefs. One of them is Abdul Majeed, originally Moroccan, with 10 years of experience in exotic locations like Marbella and Italy. He is an affable chef with a fine disposition and expertise. The manager is extremely welcoming and the waiters seemed to be trained in pampered fashion as they catered to every request.

The seating capacity of Il Porto is 60 people at any point of the day. The atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated and the food lives up to the anticipation. Reservations are essential, especially on weekends.

It may be pervasive in Arabian culture but the food-for-thought phrase holds true value for a sparkling ambiance in society. The crowd is effervescent, definitely diversified, and whenever there is a majority of girls lined up at a new spot in town, you know it’s either because it’s a health conscious eatery or serves popular desserts.

Their Chicken Alfredo (SR70) is a delight. The Alfredo sauce is creamy and substantial served with grilled chicken, fresh mushrooms, olives and melted cheese, catering an immense experience. You can explore the flavors of Italy and enjoy each bite looking out at the calm bay of the Marina view the location offers. The Caesar pizza (SR70) is exactly what the name insinuates: your chicken Caesar salad ingredients on a flat crisp pan of fresh pizza. It really takes the guilt off, as you indulge in your salad craving while enjoying a real pizza.

Their best-selling items are the Portoccini pasta, Halloumi pizza (a must for the Halloumi fans) and Il Porto pizza, named after the brand. Portoccini (SR70) is fettuccini with rosemary, basil leaves, onion, chicken, green olives, figs and Gorgonzola sauce. Probably a glimpse into the veracity of the Pizzeria, the Il Porto pizza is a collaboration of calamari, shrimp, octopus, salmon, mussels, eggplant, zucchini and cheese. I bear witness to both varieties being devoured by one person at the little wooden tables, which are covered in the typical checked tablecloth spreads at the corner pizzerias in Italy.

Now, greet pleasure at the table. Dessert is cherry on the cake — for a primal reason. Undoubtedly, it is the most exhilarating element of a meal. Mini Flirts as the name suggests, is an assortment of three exciting treats. It offers Tiramisu — the classical Italian, a caramel panacotta and delicious dark chocolate mousse. A chocolate aficionado would let the caramel subside easily. The Italian Cassata is a customary sweet from Sicily. Made similar to a pie, containing a top and bottom crust, it is filled with layers of Italian ice cream and baked in the oven. Curious? It is eccentric, to say the least.

The USP (Unique Selling Preposition) of Il Porto lies in its forestalling of excess. This little Italy is little. It is not beyond its factual set phrase. Il Porto manages to keep it simple and sophisticated, offering courtesy with every helping of their cuisine, effortlessly. They try to merge the concept of a pizzeria with classic pasta and exclusive desserts with music by Bob Houweik, a famous DJ from Beirut, playing in the backdrop. A rendezvous of sorts between Italy and Arabia surfaces at the location that offers an amalgamation of land and sea.

So, perhaps the financial segment is not so little. Charging more than a regular junk pizza and salad outside, Il Porto tries to mark their niche for the health conservative, contemporary pizza and pasta lovers. Their drinks are certainly limited, but the main courses and desserts leave no time for that thought process.

Of course, it is not possible to soak up every flavor in one trip. Like Rome, it has many sophisticated layers. It's best to indulge in one that you want the most. A word to the wise: you might end up having an entire pan of pizza by yourself. So, make sure your partner gets another (that could conveniently be your second preference). It is imperative you luxuriate in dessert love. Or, it would serve injustice to the law of indulgence.