Cucina Italiana has grown to be a staunch favourite among Bahrain’s residents who love Italian food. Farah Baig shares her top recommendations following a dining experience at the quaint restaurant.
Cucina Italiana is a very short drive away from the Bahrain This Month office and has grown into a favourite for our comforting business lunches! This month around, however, I was in store for a very different dining experience.
I made my way to Juffair one evening for a fantastic dinner. Walking into the restaurant I appreciated its atmosphere by night. Soft music in the background, and calming dim lighting make it the perfect location for a relaxing family dinner, catch up with friends or chatty date night.
Seated at the long table at the end of the restaurant, with the Godfather himself watching over me, I was ready for a Cucina-esque feast! Following a warm welcome, we were served mocktails and a classic Cucina starter – warm, soft Focaccia with a side of olive oil, flavourful balsamic vinegar, chili flakes, grated parmesan cheese and chili oil. It’s the simplest yet most sensational start to the meal – trust me.
For some freshness, we savoured the Insalata Di Cucina which was a fantastic blend of mixed leafy greens, cucumber ribbons, parmesan shavings and a generous helping of bresaola. The fresh greens paired perfectly with the savoury bresaola and the subtle sweetness of the balsamic reduction and honey-mustard.
With an oven visible the moment you walk through the restaurant’s doors, you can’t help but feel excited about its pizza. We were served the Pizza Bandeira which has a classic thin, crisp crust and is generously topped with fresh tomato sauce, bocconcini mozzarella balls, fresh rocket leaves and cherry tomatoes. So delicious!
A clear classic aside from pizza and pasta when it comes to Italian cuisine has to be meatballs! Cucina’s are by far some of my favourite on the island. The Polpette Napoli which are Neapolitan-style meatballs are served in a sumptuous tomato and pesto sauce.
Moving on to our main course, we savoured two types of risotto. For those who love seafood, and Arabian flavours, the Cernia Del Mediterraneo is a must. Its pan fried hammour is perfectly cooked, flaking with a gentle press of the fork. A generous serving of lemon butter sauce and sliced black olives added flavour to this dish. My top recommendation, however, would have to be the Ravioli Funghi Di Pollo – a divinely creamy risotto with lots and lots of sauteed mushrooms and a juicy grilled chicken breast. It is absolutely addictive and an indulgent choice any time of the week.
The highlight of the evening, though, had to be Cucina’s charcoal-grilled lamb rack. While most restaurants tend to dry out their meats when cooking them, the culinary team at Cucina has mastered their grilling techniques; their lamb is tender and moist. Each bite pairs beautifully with the sauteed potatoes which soaked up the sumptuous brown gravy sauce. Green beans wrapped with beef bacon made an ideal, elevated garnish for this dish.
A memorable dinner like this has to end on the right note, and the team had yet another creation up their sleeve to spoil us – Torta Al Cioccolato Fondante. This molten lava cake was absolutely decadent. The stream of chocolate pouring out the centre, slightly crisp edges of the cake and cool vanilla ice cream are a match made in heaven!
Needless to say, for a night of comfort, warm hospitality and extraordinary food, I will always choose Cucina!