Are you in Tuscany, or still in Abu Dhabi? You might need to pinch yourself if spending the evening at Villa Toscana, an authentic Italian restaurant which feels like going on holiday for the night. Step inside and, first, take in the grand interiors inspired by classic Italian palazzos. The rustic chandeliers overhead, wooden furniture and classic tableware is sophisticated and chic. Décor features such as columns and large pots add to the vibe and give the impression of being transported to the spacious villas found across Tuscany’s rolling hills.
But, is the menu as authentic as the setting? According to Villa Toscana, the answer is yes - or, maybe we should say, Si! All dishes are inspired by or taken directly from the regions Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna and crafted with simple, fresh ingredients, as is so crucial to Italian cooking. As is typical in these areas, the menu starts with a selection of antipasti including grilled octopus with potato foam, cherry tomato confit and black olive powder or slow cooked braised veal belly, tuna mayonnaise and fried capers. Then, follows a pasta course with options such as rigatoni with Genovese-style braised beef ragout and baked potato gnocchi.
If you still have room, try some of the signature main dishes which span wild seabass, veal chop Milanese style, baby chicken on the grill or beef tomahawk steak. If pizza is more your thing, there’s a healthy selection with toppings such as veal sausage with sprouting broccoli, beef pepperoni or ricotta with pears, walnuts, honey and parmesan. And of course, what would life be without some sweet treats? Those finishing the meal with dessert will need to choose from traditional tiramisu made with lady fingers, semifreddo with pistachio or hot fried raviolo stuffed with ricotta and chocolate.