There have been quite a few positive reviews of the relatively new Maggiano’s on jeddahfood.com so I thought it was about time that I paid Jeddah’s latest Italian restaurant a visit. For the unfamiliar, Maggiano’s is an Italian-American style chain with locations across the globe. This is their first foray into Saudi Arabia, and based on our first impressions we don’t expect it to be their last.
Arriving after Isha prayer, we were struck by the distinctive and arched entrance canopy as we approached the restaurant, through a revolving door we passed and as if by magic found ourselves almost smack bang in the middle of the restaurant. First appearances the whole places feels rather swish; dark wood, glittering chandeliers, and neatly laid tables.
Staff are dressed head to toe in black, (their bright red ties the only exception). Touches of New York’s Little Italy ring true throughout, from black and white photos and icons such as Rome’s Coliseum, to classical tunes from the likes of Sinatra.
Following our waiter to the table, the privacy of the booths quickly became apparent and we tucked ourselves down into the plush leather seating.
It would be true to say there are more than enough items on the menu, I decided to keep things simple and ordered a classic or “Mom’s Lasagne” for SR48, a staple Italian dish and one I reasoned would be a good test of their kitchens culinary skills. I also upgraded my order to include a Caesar salad for only SR8. To drink we all tried the raspberry lemonade.
Meanwhile, my companions picked out a chicken and spinach cannelloni type dish (its name escapes me) and a chicken saltimbocca. Our waiter Asanka took our order promising (rather accurately) to return five minutes later with our drinks and some complimentary bread with a dish of seasoned olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
As soon as the fresh bread arrived, our New Year’s resolutions scurried to the door. Addictively soft, the buns were literally steaming, so good in fact that we managed to get through three whole baskets before being forced to call it a day with the arrival of our salads! The salads were a steal with crispy lettuce, chunky croutons, and a thin layer of dressing. The appetizer is a meal in its own right, which is a shame as the price is only applicable should you order one of their pasta mains.
Soon our dishes arrived and our waiter politely checked to see if we were ready to move on to the mains before serving them on to our table. If the food tasted as good as it looked, we were in for a treat, and to be honest we weren’t far off.
My lasagna was far superior to anything else I have experienced elsewhere in town, with a rich, super thick layers of creamy cheese, ground beef and white cheese sauce. It was a little on the salty side, but nothing a burst of the cool raspberry lemonade couldn’t handle.
The other dishes managed to impress, with few leftovers remaining in sight.
The real stars at Maggiano’s are the desserts. We tried both the tiramisu and the crème brule, and both were fantastic. Topped with strawberries, the crème brule was just right, a small touch of the spoon cracked its sugared surface cutting into the creamy mix below. The tiramisu was huge; so big we ended up sharing the dessert between the three of us.
Presentation and quality go hand in hand at Maggiano’s. While not cheap, it’s also not expensive. The venue is very good value for money, three of us ate for just under SR300, and this included drinks, starter salads, mains, desserts and a 15 percent service charge. Not bad going.
Service was swift and our keen waiter made sure he kept us up to date with the whereabouts of our food with almost every step of the meal. Not only did he help recommend us dishes, but he also went out of his way to bring us extra bread, refill our dipping dish with seasoning, and make sure we had everything we needed — a refreshing change for a restaurant in Jeddah. Hats off to Maggiano’s and Asanka for a truly pleasant evening.
Telephone: 02-660-6625
Location: Tahlia Street
Website: www.maggianos.com
