VENUE REVIEW
“The menu is welldesigned, clear, and very appealing, dotted with select images of certain dishes at Carluccio’s. There’s nothing pretentious about the food offerings here, they’re simply Italian through and through.”
H
aving been to a number of Carluccio’s around the world - England, Turkey and Qatar, to name but a few places - I had the usual high hopes on my way to the Italian eatery in Galleria Mall, on Al Maryah Island, and what I found was, truthfully, beyond expectations. Now, let’s make one thing clear, Carluccio’s isn’t a fancy, high-end, posh-nosh type of place. And it isn’t trying to be either. What it is, is simple. A tidy restaurant full of little quirks and characteristic charm. The venue is nothing short of impressive; cool, modern lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling as well as in the form of standing lamps. The decor has a European edge with its fresh, neutral interiors and trendy chic touches like food-themed wall art and shelves housing books, frames and condiments. The restaurant itself is large with ample seating options including comfy sofacushion seats and spacious wooden chairs. There’s even a high-table bar area, perfect for those who want to grab just a drink or dessert, whilst the rest
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of the venue caters for diners who want to come alone, with friends, and even families with small children, who want a full-on meal. I turned up at Carluccio’s with a laptop in-tow and found myself a quite seat at the far end of the restaurant where the sound of the acoustic music played softly in the background. What I wanted from this visit was simple; a place to relax and catch up on work emails, whilst filling up on some hearty Italian food. The waiting staff have, by now, greeted and seated me and I’ve already asked for the wi-fi password, which happened to be ‘goodfood.’ This, automatically, sets the laid-back mood at Carluccio’s and tells me that the venue has a fun, chilled-out vibe where it is, in fact, all about serving up good food. The menu is well-designed, clear, and very appealing, dotted with select images of certain dishes at Carluccio’s. There’s nothing pretentious about the food offerings here, they’re simply Italian through and through. There’s everything from bread and olives, starters, salads, pasta, pizza, risotto, and desserts, and there’s just enough going on to give you variety.
“Whether it’s breakfast and morning coffee, a light lunch, or a filling dinner, Carluccio’s is where you’ll find authentic yet affordable Italian cuisine that could rival any fine-dining restaurant, any day.”