VERSO | AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT COMBINING AUTHENTIC COMFY FOOD IN A GORGEOUS DECOR

Currently at the top of our ‘Best of 2018’ list…

After having a media tour inside the newly open Grand Hyatt at West Corniche (full scoop here), we were back again to experience VERSO, an Italian restaurant.

If you fancy authentic, homemade Italian recipes, then this is the new spot to visit in the city as VERSO has worked hard to create an appealing menu, very fairly priced, without compromising on the quality and freshness of the Italian sourced products. It ticks everything all the boxes.

So, if you have no plans for the next weekend, go after work for an aperitivo followed by an Italian dinner and your weekend will start well!

The restaurant decor is brilliant: ceramic tiles on the floor, industrial-looking decor with shelves filled with Italian cooking books, gorgeous white jugs, bowls, trinkets. The restaurant has that distinct homely feel that you will also enjoy while eating your dinner.

VERSO also has an exciting outdoor terrace overlooking the infinity pool and the sea, and we adore the environmental-friendly outdoor containers filled with various aromatic edible herbs: thyme, oregano, mint, and more. The staff is also very welcoming and you can see the team work from the open kitchen.

Upon arrival, another highlight is that guests can see the appealing traditional Italian desserts such as the Tiramisu, profiteroles, canollo, ice cream (also homemade!), huge meringues, various biscuits, cold cuts and more housed inside a large vitrine.

The menu is divided into different sections-Antipasti, Pasta and Risotto, Pizze, Soupe and Stuzzichini Tradizioali. We noticed that only two items in the whole menu were priced over 100 AED, with taxes included-which means it really is well-priced..

As the idea is to enjoy a meal in a casual manner, don’t hesitate to order a mix of dishes and share them with the rest of your party.

Our personal favorites included the halal cold cut platter (we would have never known the cuts were halal if we hadn’t been told). Coming directly from Italy, the charcuteries included Beef speck, cooked veal ham, Pancetta arrotolata, Bresaola, mild Ventricina-they are best enjoyed with the fig marmalade and the freshly baked focaccia. A great start!

The burrata salad was like summer in a salad and served with marinated honey tomatoes and flavorful small taggiasca olives. The burrata, olives, as most products in the VERSO menu, were sourced in Italy by the VERSO team and the Italian restaurant chef.

There is also a special aperitivo menu called Verso martini Aperitivo with cocktails drinks priced at 30AED that can be accompanied with a selection of Traditional Italian aperitivo priced at 45AED for 2 pax or 65 AED for four people.

The pizzas served at VERSO are prepared with a homemade sourdough that gives them an artisanal touch and crunch to the crust. Our Diavola pizze (88AED) – topped beef salami, onions and fresh chili – satisfied our tastebuds and was devoured in no time.

If you are more into pasta or risotto, the menu offers twelve options to choose from. The Maccheronci amatriciana (82AED) made us feel like we were having a pasta dish prepared by ‘La Mama’. With pancetta, chili and tomato, it was wholesome and well balanced.

Please leave room for the desserts as the Tiramisu and the profiteroles are absolutely worth every bite and you don’t want to think about calories. The profiteroles are actually filled with an Italian sweet cream and not with ice cream (a difference between the Italian and French recipes) and won unanimous support amongst our table guests.

We have to get back there soon to experience the ice cream parlor as we were told it is worth trying too.

Check the restaurant menu below:

 

Last tip! Until the end of June 2018, guests visiting VERSO at breakfast or lunchtime are allowed to experience the hotel pool (depending on availability). A plus not to be missed!

VERSO | Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, West Corniche | +97125101205

 

 

 

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