Tucked inside one of Abu Dhabi’s oldest and most iconic hotels, La Mamma has been operating for years, serving up Italian fare to the public. Visiting in the evening it’s immediately apparent why this spot is said to be romantic; dim lighting, soft music and candles suspended in vases of water all reaffirm the claim. The décor includes Italian styled tiles and a dome ceiling painted in inviting hues of orange and red. The kitchen is open and visitors can stop by and have a look at the chefs preparing the meals.

Our evening got off to a bit of a bad start when we were sat next to the only other occupied table in the otherwise empty dining room. Apparently all of the tables were reserved, even though it was 9pm. We were also brought a bottle of pricey designer water when we had specifically asked for local. We subsequently braced ourselves for an evening of mistakes and didn’t have high hopes.

Looking at the menu though, we couldn’t help but regain some semblance of excitement; especially because the choice was concise but comprehensive.

For our appetisers, we opted for a rocket salad with mushrooms and aubergine served with parmesan cheese. The salad was excellent; the rocket leaves were very flavourful and fresh, with just the right amount of crispness. The salad also had a very generous portion of fresh mushrooms and was lightly drizzled with balsamic dressing. The aubergine was served deep-fried, with crispy bits of hardened melted cheese around it; not great for the heart but your mouth will thank you.

For our main courses, we ordered a pizza and a mixed seafood dish, as well as a side order of polenta. Once our dishes arrived, we quickly sampled the maize-based dish. We were both pleasantly surprised; it was prepared rather well although there seemed to be a hint of vegetable cooking oil which isn’t usually such an obvious flavour.

The pizza was delicate and crisp, with a thin layer of dough that was piled with just enough sauce and cheese to let the taste of each ingredient come through. The seafood dish had a variety of oceanic offerings such as tuna, salmon, squid, hammour and shrimp. While everything tasted nice, what really stood out were the shrimps, which were grilled to perfection. The salmon was a very close runner up, with a portion served almost large enough to stand as a dish on its own. The servings of all our dishes were notably generous, offering great value for money for a night dining out. With an undeniable romantic air to the place, you are certain to enjoy a meal here.

The bill (for two)
Rucola mushroom salad Dhs45
La parmigiana Dhs50
Seafood grigliata Dhs150
Emiliani pizza Dhs64
Polenta Dhs15
Total (excluding service) Dhs324