Fine Italian Dining at Da Pino

I have truly changed the way I look at hotel restaurants. They have changed my perception because so far, most of the restaurants inside the hotels I've eaten in have provided good food and great ambiance. I've tried Hotel Al Khozama's Garden Barbecue, Al Faisaliah's The Globe buffet, and Radisson Blu's Shogun. Now I return to Al Khozama to try their Italian restaurant, Da Pino.

Charming is the first word that came into my mind when I stepped in Da Pino Restaurant located at the Al Khozama Center. If you've been in this centre, the first thing you'll notice is it's empty, especially the ground floor. The only activity you'll hear is the ding of the elevator that takes you to the restaurants. Anyway, Da Pino is one of the best Italian restaurants in Riyadh. A claim to enjoy authentic regional Italian cuisine is at hand. Who am I to refuse? (Even though I have no idea what authentic Italian cuisine tastes like... I haven't been to Italy!)

See how small? You're halfway to the kitchen!

Da Pino is a small restaurant. It encourages intimate gatherings of family and friends. This is where you'll be tucked in your own little space and enjoy conversations in between bites of good food. The colors of the place remind me of an outdoor rural setting near a vineyard. The dim, yellowish lighting however didn't give me enough light to take good photos.

Ahhh the Italian colors with a dash of sunshiny yellow

As per almost all our Italian meals in Riyadh, dinner started with bread and butter. I love one of their breads that resembled our very own pan de sal. It's a bit salty and sweet and with the butter melting into its fold. What a nice opener.

An assortment of yummy breads

We also ordered the Calamari Fritti (SR 75), again, another dish so familiar to me that no peculiar execution to this dish can surprise me anymore. While the pieces of squid rings were lightly-seasoned and perfectly-fried, this contained no surprise. It's just delightfully satisfying. However, I think I wished for more of these.

There's something ordinary on this calamares.

I ordered the Lasagne Fatto in Casa (SR 75), a classic dish with spinach pasta sheets sandwiching meat and cheese in its layers. This pasta is highly-recommended and for good reason! I love how saucy and meaty it is. There's little embellishment when it comes to this dish. It's perfectly rich and creamy with the bolognaise sauce rounding all ingredients up nicely. 

Uhmn no, that's not a pizza.

Underneath is the gooey pasta! It's almost a sin to destroy the top cheesy crust.

The star of the night belongs to my friend's Cotoletta Milanese (SR 135), a dish of veal escalope accompanied by baked potato. The meat is so tender; it almost has the consistency of chicken! Granted that the thinning of the veal made it more tender and cooked with less moisture loss, it's still an incredible feat to have this juicy, flavorful dish that is absolutely lip-smacking! The sauce, while liberally poured, has a sublime yet luxe taste. I've told my friend I wanted to steal her dish because it was so good! 

Can you be mine?

Seriously, you're veal?! So tender like chicken!

The dishes are good for sharing. Except the veal escalope... keep that to yourself! Haha! Check out Da Pino's menu here. Their lunch and dinner are ala carte but they have a live pasta station where you can choose your own kind of freshly-made pasta and sauces from Tuesday to Thursday. 

Now, I'm truly a believer that hotel restaurants can be true to their word of high-quality food and top-notch service. They're still expensive but for quite good reasons. That's why, I'm suggesting you dine in these places on special occasions unless you want to dine here every day then I'm not stopping you also. Buon appetito! ~ Sundrenched

Da Pino Italian Restaurant

Al Khozama Center

Olaya Street, 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

T: +966-11-273-2222

FB: https://www.facebook.com/hotelalkhozama

Twitter: @al_khozama

A Classic 50s Act at Bud's

Guess how many times have we written about restaurants that specialises in BURGERS in the blog? Nah, don't count (but it will help our stats if you go through our blog over and over, haha!) because I couldn't count either. There are just so many burger shops that I wonder why most people are fascinated with it. Why do they like burgers so much?!? Yes, burgers are quite handy, basically a complete meal, and affordable.. uhmn yeah what was the question again?! Haha. So okay, here we go with another burger restaurant. Again?! Sorry not sorry.

If you pass by Tahlia Street, our favorite Riyadh street at night (NOT!), you will notice the area where the lighthouse-looking building is (used to be Hediard), you'll see a gathering of new restaurants merging with the classics (like Buffalo's). That's called the Galaxy Center. And then you'll notice a shop called Classic Cars or something, that has to do with... old, expensive cars. No, I will not talk about that but it's just apt that it's situated a stone throw away from Bud's Road Classic Diner, one of the retro-ish burger places in Riyadh with half a car and motorcycles as decorations inside!

Bud's Road Classic Diner is a Saudi brand serving American fast food cuisine. It promises a cheerful ambiance that represents the happy 1950s. When you go inside Bud's you'll be reminded of the Frosty Palace in Grease or the Chok'lit Shoppe in Archie's Comics where the characters hang-out after school. A diner is an old-fashioned ice cream parlour slash soda fountain shop that capitalizes on nostalgia in the United States. Bringing it here in Riyadh however makes for a novel restaurant that brings the customers out of Riyadh for a bit. 

Hello to the 50s!

I love the stainless and leather seats, and the car that has a table and chair in between! Coolio! It would have been cooler if it's not in the men's section. The black and white checkered walls are adorned with vintage prints and road signs. The counters are shiny and the tables even have swivelling tiny doors! Awesome! I bet you're counting on a sing and dance number coming out but alas! None.

A nod to the good 'ol happy days of America

Can't use that car, er, table... it's in the men's section. Sigh.

I was honestly gawking at the massive motorcycles above me when I ordered. I mean if you didn't get curious at that retro gas station then you will tie up the theme when you encounter the motorcycle and and vintage car inside. I ordered one of their burgers with barbecue sauce (it has always been my default to anything sweet and savory) and a strawberry milkshake.

Pinks and motorcycles huh? Bring it on! 

Hat's off to the presentation of the burger. It was served on a canteen tray complete with French fries and coleslaw. Now I am not ignoring the burger but I have to tell you, those fries are great! My friend had to steal some from my tray because she ordered salmon! (Hello, who orders salmon at a burger joint?! Someone who wants to rebel against the student pack, that's who!) Anyway, the burger is meaty and juicy. It was not a WOW burger but its definitely good. 

Now this is making me miss my school days! Caf time!

No compromise on this tray! There are condiments though.

One more item that I truly enjoyed, making me wish I can lick off my fingers without losing my poise is the Bud's Wings! They're sweet and spicy and sprinkled with cheese. All my favourite flavours and things in one bucket! I'm salivating just by thinking and writing about them!

Ahhhh my precious!

Lickin', I mean... looking' good!

My friend wasn't awed by her salmon dish (again, her fault for ordering the non-burger dish in a burger restaurant) but she liked it. She had a lemon mint drink with it. The whole green and yellow food ensemble she had going on looked like she's a vegetarian on a burger diner! Crazy right?! Haha!

This dish is screaming healthy to me! Hello green and yellow!

Refreshing, zesty tonic

Anyway, the drink was refreshing and my milkshake was think and creamy and oh-so-sweet! It was sinful and good at the same time. Goodness, the huge motorcycles and leather seats might have brought out the rebel in me! Haha!

Sinfully delectable

So, if you're missing Archie comics and want to be transported to the 50s for an hour or so, visit Bud's Road Classic Diner! Yep, it's a classic! ~ Sundrenched

Bud's Road Classic Diner

Galaxy Center, Tahlia Street

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

T: +966-11-4611058

W: www.budsroad.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/BudsRoadDiner

Opening Hours: 12:30PM - 1:00AM

Dining With The Stars(' Paraphernalia) at Planet Hollywood

When we moved into our new neighborhood, one of the first things we did was scour for nearby establishments and restaurants. The North Ring Area (Exits 5-8) is slowly developing into a busy hub of restaurants similar to Thalia. We found a lot of familiar names like Johnny Rockets, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Piatto, Steak House, Forchetta, Bread Talk and even more are restaurants popping up. 

We decided to have dinner at Planet Hollywood – minus the casinos and live music. Hehehe. It has the same décor: glass-encased Hollywood movie costumes and “walk of fame”. It also boasts of a cozy terrace dining area for those who want to chill out. 

Terraced Restaurant

Movie souvenirs adorn the walls

Retrace the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Mel Gibson's Police Car in Lethal Weapon

They even have a souvenir shop!

We wanted to sit at the terrace area but it was already full, but that's okay since their indoor dining area was cozy enough. We ordered the PH Combo platter to tryout their appetizers. This platter is a combination of fried shrimp, calamari, chicken fingers and nachos. Personally, I loved their guacamole dip with their nacho chips.

Our appetizer, yum!

We didn't have to wait too long and we were served our main dish. Hubby ordered a New York Steak with Mushroom Sauce while I ordered the Fillet of Atlantic Salmon. At first I thought the Salmon felt a little bland but when I added a bit of lemon, it was transformed into a tangy dish! The mashed potatoes were also good. 

Fillet of Atlantic Salmon

New York Steak with Mushroom Sauce

Overall a good experience! The waiters were very attentive and responsive. We were too full to order desserts but we're definitely coming back to try their other menus. Plus they already have their Ramadan promotion up: 79 SAR for appetizers, pasta and dessert so we might try that for Iftar next month.

Cheers!
Sampaguita Pride

Planet Hollywood
Northern Ring Road Branch,
At Taawun, Riyadh 12477
Coordinates: 24.777903, 46.689062
Opens 12:30 pm to 2:00 am.

PS. Their seafood soup is also worth mentioning. It's all I ever eat as a starter in the place. ;) ~ EIC

I'm a Kitchenation Citizen

The Mira Hotel is a beautiful building in Tahlia Street. Its modern Andalusian architecture and design and warm, creamy yellow orange facade emit a welcoming vibe that speaks of comfort and luxury at the same time. You know when a hotel is a bit intimidating because of all the displays in there that you're afraid to touch? Well, we're not sure if Mira is the same because honestly, we only got to walk down their red carpet in front and enter their sliding doors and turn right to what is probably one of the best not-so-hidden gems in Riyadh... Kitchenation. 

Mira Hotel + Kitchenation

While the sign is right outside the wall of Mira Hotel, you wouldn't be able to see the interiors of the restaurant unless you enter. Kitchenation is unique in terms of its layout and design. For a hotel restaurant, it doesn't look obnoxious and snobbish. It looks inviting. It looks like a place where your creativity can flow all day long. I was tempted to bring out my Macbook, my notebooks, pencils, and Sharpies and invade one of the tables for the whole day, considering how I've been struggling with some sort of a writer's block over the past few months. 

I feel at home!

I like this set-up.

The restaurant is airy and the spaces are wisely-utilized. There's no uniformity but everything goes together so well; from the mix and matched chairs to the nooks filled with books, figurines, and trinkets to the juice bar filled with colorful fruits and beverages to my favorite dessert display where meringues and cheesecakes and candy apples and brownies are arranged in sweet abandon. I honestly felt like I already belonged in this place, even if it was just my first time to set foot on it. 

IKEA sofa and some trinkets

The tables have - get this - a canister of crayons and pens and also a placemat that has a game we used to play in the Philippines. I guess this game of listing famous personalities, countries, animals, plants, etc. that starts with the letter A, B, C, and so on... is a universal game after all. So while waiting for the food, we went back to our childhood and scribbled away. 

Child's play?

Basic colors and wood

Each table has its own knick-knacks which will help you tide the time away. I was also fascinated with this huge shelf filled with books, tin cans, photo frames, and clocks and the nearby roll of manila paper filled with scribbled quotes that stretches from the ceiling to the floor. Even the IKEA sofa sets and colorful chairs are interesting. They all held my attention because looking at the setup, I did not get what cuisine they were serving. If I had to take a guess, it would have taken me a few tries to get the answer (or maybe not at all) because... 

Kitchenation serves a fusion of Turkish and Italian cuisine. 

Weird huh? But I tell you, Kitchenation actually got their fusion right. I mean pizzas with yoghurt and kebabs? Pastas with seafood and Turkish flavors? Yum! There are some items in their menu that look American and Asian to me but oh well. Their slogan says "Turkish Kitchen and Italian Hospitality" and that's a legit thing as far as I'm concerned. 

Here are the food items we truly enjoyed: 

Fresh salad with a hint of sweetness and tartness

This salad is fresh and bountiful... what more can I say? Ask my friends who devoured this for further comments. Haha!

Starting the meal right.

You'll be surprised at how familiar this one tastes.

The Crispy Shrimps appetizer is so simple yet once you start eating one, you can't stop! The succulent shrimps are enveloped in a pillowy cover that is surprisingly crispy. One piece packs a lot of flavor. 

Uhmn, what is this? A solid presentation huh.

Unveiling the goodness beneath.

Tsaraaaaaaan! :)

And here I am again forgetting to take photos of the menu thus forgetting the names of the dishes (why do I do this to myself every.single.time?!?). Anyway, this seafood spaghetti is served in a clay pot and covered with khubz. There goes the fusion of Turkey and Italy. Our waiter took his time showing us how to release the steam of the pasta. He carefully cut the thin, flat bread on the sides and followed the circular pattern of the pot and voila! The wonderful seafood aroma seeped through and we finally saw the spaghetti doused in a pale orangey sauce that is savory and delicious. 

Grandmother's interesting Turk-Ital pizza!

Another successful creation that fuses both countries' bestselling dishes is this pizza that features a light tomato sauce, tender beef cuts, and creamy yoghurt sauce in the middle. I slathered my slice with the white sauce and ate with gusto. 

The famed mini burgers

The mini burgers garnered a lot of raves in Foursquare but I didn't find anything special to it apart from the kebab, almost sausage, they used as patty. And also the generous heaping of french fries on the side. 

There's always room for salmon.

We're ready for dinner!

The salmon didn't taste quite as fresh as we imagined it to be and the sweet chili sauce was a bit off-putting. We're not too sure they go well together. If you order this, have them put the chili sauce on the side instead of pouring it in the fish. 

Lemon + Melon = A bit too sour for my taste but that's what lemons do.

They also offer interesting beverage mixes. Try their mojitos. Or if you can't pick just one fruit, make your own kind of juice! We didn't have the chance to try their desserts but I'm leaving you with photos of some sweet treats that made my eyes full. Let me know if you tried any and I'll surely go back to try them out. 

Spell TEMPTATION.

Berry good!

Be still my heart. 

This looks yummerz!

Macarons with cute canisters

A tray of sweets

is there anything more chocolatey?! 

These are not your ordinary macarons. They're huge!

I really felt like Kitchenation is a home that just transformed into a bigger venue and welcomed more people in. I felt like I belong in one of their table sets because it's so whimsical and boho, almost like being outside Saudi Arabia for a moment. Their staff are friendly too. Kitchenation is open from 7:00AM to 11:00PM. Can I be a citizen on this nation? Haha. ~ Sundrenched

Kitchenation

Mira Hotel

Tahlia Street, 

Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Twitter: @kitchenationm

Instagram: @kitchenation

Directions: Mira Hotel is the same building where Elevation Burger and Zaatar Wa Zeit are located. If you're coming from Olaya, turn to Tahlia Street and make a U-turn when you reach the Chili's intersection. It will be on your right. If you're coming from Dabab Street, just go straight, pass the signal light and you'll see it in your right. (Map photo from Foursquare)