Bricco Pizza & Pasta

Al Wadha Mall's Italian-style cafe manages to impress... 6 Reviews

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A fairly recent addition to Al Wadha Mall, it is a surprise to learn the origins of this red, white and green café are not as they seem. A brief internet search reveals that this chain is actually not from the country of pasta and olive oil, but a more oriental origin. With several branches in Shanghai, Briccocafé is about as Italian as egg foo yung, yet it does a fair impersonation of a bustling Roman eatery. The decor might be a tad ‘store bought’, but the service is eager and the food decent. It managed to get lumbered with a third-floor location, but don’t worry, we’re not talking ‘food court’.

The pizzas contrast paper-thin crusts with big, chunky ingredients and don’t disappoint. The pastas are equally fulsome – although no Italian would ever leave the tails on the prawns in the zucchini penne pasta. A definite case of Eastern influences overriding common sense. After dinner, a seemingly endless array of iced ’essos and ’chinos look nicer than they taste. Overall, it’s a decent spot for those in need of quick pasta fix and don’t want screaming kids as a side order.

By Jon Wilks
Time Out Abu Dhabi, 28 December 2009

• Previous reviews
  • 11 August,2011- reviewed by Time Out Abu Dhabi staff
  • 27 May,2010- reviewed by Jon Wilks
  • 13 December,2009- reviewed by Time Out Abu Dhabi staff

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: leesa on 16 Sep ' 13 at 19:17

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Edited by TimeOutAbuDhabi.com

worst experience ever and i regret going there. they pretend like they are a restaurant by separating themselves from the food court. Unfortunately people fall for it and think it is a restaurant when the food is worse than the food from the food court but with extremely high prices. First of all, they brought very bad cheap bread as an appetizer which doesnt happen in proper italian restaurants. Then they brought me a pasta with extremely bad meat and bought sauce which cost 50 dhs but it was obvious the real price was 10 dhs and anyone could've made it. Also, the waitress tried to cheat us by charging extra for things i didnt get.

Posted by: vocecita on 15 May ' 13 at 07:17

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Edited by TimeOutAbuDhabi.com

Pizzas here are gorgeous! But you have to like American style pizza with thick crust...even the "thin" crust is not as thin as real, Italian pizza. Great decor at Al Bandar branch with amaretti cookies, extra virgin olive oils and parmesan and pecorino on sale inside and displayed artfully. The pastas, however, are atrocious. I will eat most anything put in front of me, even if I don't love it, but these were inedible. Absolutely no herbs and no flavor at all...lasagna was miserable, napoletana, bolognaise and arrabiata pastas also. Simply horrific. AND the "fresh" juice came with sugar! The tuna tartare starter was also inedible as it was doused with salt...stick to the pizza in other words!

Posted by: Mohamed on 23 Nov ' 12 at 09:49

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I have been to good and bad restaurants and I have never written any reviews about my experiences. I the case of Briccocafé, the one that opened recently in Al Bandar (Al Raha Beach), I believe it is my duty toward humanity to write about my experience in that restaurant.

It was one of my worst night ever. My wife was telling me not to go there, but I insisted and for that I have to listen to what she says for the rest of our lives. When we got there, the restaurant was busy and I had to ask a waitress twice to seat us. While she was taking us to our seats, the manager came and grabbed her from her hand and asked her to serve other customers. I was really shocked of what I same. He did this three times to other waitresses while we were there. It took us 35 minutes to get the menu and another 40 minutes to place our order and another 40 minutes to get the food in our table. They brought the appetizer and main course together! The food was not that good. The lasagna my wife ordered was cold indicating that was a microwave made! Other people inside the restaurant started to leave and counseled their orders. They should close this restaurant because it hurts the reputation of Al Bandar community and the Italian food.

Not recommended at all

Posted by: Mohamed Othman on 28 Jan ' 12 at 10:16

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

There was no one when we reached the restaurant for lunch. I ordered Lasagna. It came after 10 min, cold from outside & warm from deep inside. It was a MICROWAVE process. what a waste of money 58 dhs for microwave lasagna((

Posted by: Luke on 15 Jan ' 10 at 15:22

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Defenetly the best pizza and pasta place in town.
Real italian first class ingredients, including the selection of flavoured extra virgin olive oils on the table.

Posted by: wafaa on 14 Jan ' 10 at 06:45

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

realy I like it ,, specially spagitti with sea food .