Parmigiana at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche | Authentic Italian in the Capital

Friday lunches are always special, especially if they involve a long drive to the destination. This one was hit the jackpot! A drive to Abu Dhabi, followed by a filling Italian lunch at one of the best spots in the city – our lunch at Parmigiana was everything we needed to make our weekend an eventful one.

Boasting of gorgeous corniche views, Parmigiana located in Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche offers a homely Italian feel. The classic black and white checkered table cloths mixed with futuristic accents lends a perfect balance between authentic Italian and modern capital vibes. The staff at Parmigiana really do understand your food and drink requirements, and tailor the menu to suit your tastes. So whether you are looking for a variety of vegetarian options of prefer something prepared gluten free, they have it all covered.

We started with a basket of fresh homemade bread that came along with 3 different dips – Green olives, Black olives and Sundried tomatoes. We loved the bread so much, we asked for a second portion.

In addition to the bread basket, we ordered a selection of juices and mocktails – Fragolla Mentha Cooler, Lemon Mint Mojito and Orange Carrot Juice.

Starters

We started with three Antipasti from their menu. The Bruschetta (AED 50) came topped with fresh tomatoes, parmesan cheese and edible flowers on crunchy toasted bread. In fact, this was one of the prettiest bruschetta I’ve seen. The light drizzle of olive oil added a good balance to the creamy cheese and tart tomatoes. Next up were the Fried Squid & Prawns (AED 60) .The prawns in this dish were simply amazing! I am not a fan of squids, so I stuck to the prawns, but I was told they were just how you expect well cooked squids to be: slightly chewy with a crunchy outer. If you prefer only one of the two seafood varieties, you can request them to prepare the dish entirely prawns or squids. What stood out the most though was their saffron garlic aioli. With such a unique combination of ingredients, this dip went just right with the fried seafood. I usually keep the best for the last, and this Burrata (AED 70) was no different. First look at that presentation, and I felt it was too pretty to eat, but no burrata can go uneaten, so we went ahead and dug in! I’ve had burrata at every restaurant that has burrata on its menu, so obviously Parmigiana was no exception. While the center of this mozzarella heart had some creaminess to it, overall it was not as creamy and soft as I expected it to be. Regardless, the acidic tomatoes cut just right into the dense cheese. A good dish, but can be made better.

Mains

Moving on the mains, we went with three of their recommendations which included two must-have Italian staples and their signature dish. For the Pizza course, we tried two different toppings in a half and half style. The Formaggi (AED 60) came with a mixture of four different cheese types on every slice. The Verdure (AED 60) on the other hand, brought in some mixed grilled vegetables into the scene. Both these pizzas were great, especially with a drizzle of chili oil, and a generous dusting of oregano and chili flakes on top. But I have to say, I am slightly biased to the Verdure Pizza. I’ve always been a fan of colorful toppings, so that one was a win for me. For the Pasta we went with the classic combination of Penne in Pesto Sauce (AED 65). Now pasta is a must for me when I’m dining Italian. And when it’s with pesto, it’s all the more better. I loved so many things about this pasta – the very sauce, the fresh ricotta, the touch of parmesan, and the sundried tomatoes and pine nut garnish.

And then, it was time for the signature dish at Parmigiana. After all the restaurant is named after it! The Chicken Parmigiana (AED 80) is a must have. The crumbed fried chicken was just fab, and the cheese crusting on top added so much to every bite. The spaghetti on the side was slightly tough – I would have preferred it more well done. On another note, it would be great if the restaurant could add a version of the real eggplant parmigiana to their menu too.

Desserts

Finally to the last leg of our lunch – desserts. You all might already know this, I’m all about classics. So the Tiramisu (AED 45) was my first and most obvious choice as dessert. Honestly, every time I try tiramisu at a new place, I am convinced it is the best. But then the very next one proves itself better than the last. This one had a very creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture with the perfect flavors and textures of mascarpone, coffee and lady fingers – all balancing each other so well! And to end it all on yet another sweet note, we opted for the Mixed Gelato with Seasonal Fruits (AED 40). This dessert is a great choice if you’re looking for something light and refreshing. Our trio of gelato flavors included chocolate, lemon and tiramisu. The fruits were certainly fresh and I loved the idea of biscotti paired with gelato.

Parmigiana

Location: Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Markaziya, Abu Dhabi
Contact: +97128137777

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