Nino
Tahliya Street, Riyadh
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Tel: 01 2016662
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If you’re a fan of Italian food, and happen to live in Riyadh, you’re probably already familiar with Nino, one of Riyadhs better Italian eateries. Staff are friendly, and the decor is impressive to say the least. The menu has also expanded to include a wider variety of items and is no longer solely focused on Italian dishes, so Wagyu Beef, pizzas, burgers and salads are also available.
Nino,
It’s been quite some time since I made it a challenge to try all the restaurants in Tahlia just because I’ve been beguiled by the restaurants lining the busy street. There are so many choices! I haven’t been halfway, only sampling the popular brands like Chili’s, Johnny Rockets, and Buffalo’s. But I made it a point to try one of those unfamiliar ones once in a while when my budget permits. After all, I’m not quite sure if those restos are expensive.
So that’s when NINO entered my vision. Its white Arabic sign and almost glass walls piqued my interest and I knew I must eat there one way or another. Also, it’s a talk of the town for quite some time now. Good thing, a friend celebrated her birthday and I eagerly suggested the restaurant. When she asked if it’s Italian, I shrugged knowing all too well that I’ve seen maki rolls in their menu. “Maybe it’s a little bit of everything,” I said.
Indeed, it is a little bit of everything you wanted in a moment. Pizza? Check! Pasta? Check! Burgers? Check! Steak? Check! Cocktails? Check! Milkshakes? Check! For the fickle-minded (like me!), it is heaven. The maki rolls proved to be impressive and unique. The vegetarian wrappers used in their maki is a good replacement to nori.
We tried the Prawns and Crab and the NINO California. I dunked a piece in mouth and I realized I won’t get tired of eating it all night long, if they permit me. It’s so soft and tasty and spicy with a good kick of wasabi. The Buffalo Chicken Wrappers is not spicy enough-okay, it wasn’t at all spicy, not a bit- but it’s crispy and filled with chicken breast shreds so it’s good enough. I don’t eat mushrooms a lot so I wasn’t too keen on taking the Fritto Funghi , huge white mushrooms stuffed with chicken, parmesan, and herbs- but it was delicious! The mushroom’s distinct, exotic earthiness didn’t get lost in the other ingredients.
We tried the Tortelloni Rosa and Ravioli Al Funghi pasta and we didn’t go wrong with our choices. The sauce for both were creamy and smooth. And because I was overwhelmed with the creamy sauces, I didn’t notice the difference between the rosa (pink) sauce and the white mushroom sauce. We also had their light and tasty pizzas (Marghareti and Marinara). We didn’t have room for the main meals of steaks but one thing caught my eye… Wagyu steak! I will definitely come back for it!
We finished the meal with Warm Chocolate Cake, a round soufflé cake topped with vanilla ice cream. It’s rather dry. Should’ve tried the banana toffee crumble instead.
NINO is good for special occasions. The prices are not that expensive. The interior is simple but the lighting in red, pink, and purple shades is gorgeous. The subtle, soft hues also cast an elegant ambiance to the dining experience. It’s not the stiff kind of elegance though. It’s still relaxed and chic. The place gets packed at night that’s why reservation is highly-recommended. It can also get a little bit noisy because they have an open area but there are booths for more privacy.
Ninos is a restaurant next door to Johnny Rockets in the Olaya area of Riyadh. My family and I have passed it a million times and saw several people coming in and out but never took the time to visit ourselves. Having something special to celebrate we decided to give Ninos a try. As soon as I entered the establishment I was impressed with the service and décor. It reminded me of a Japanese restaurant I had dined at in Malaysia that was top notch.
Cleanliness is a huge thing for me personally in restaurants. A lot of times the main areas look nice while the actual table and surroundings are not taken care of. Ninos was spotless all around and that initially makes a customer feel comfortable. The décor is hip and modern yet perfect for families and singles giving private or open areas to dine in and let’s not forget about the patio for outdoor dining.
The menu is quiet impressive offering Asian and Mediterranean dishes. Two cuisines I would never have thought would work well together but Ninos have managed to pull it off and did a fabulous job in doing so. If you’re watching your weight Ninos also offers a huge selection of light dishes. The only bad thing I would have to say is that the restaurant does not offer a kids menu and not many kids would love the unique flavors they have. So it’s best to leave them at home or pick them up something before or after.
I started out with two different sushi dishes. They set up was colorful and full. I love a good set up of food when I dine, that just screams impeccable service. The sushi was some of the best that I have ever had and I have tried sushi all around the world including Asia itself. For the main course I tried a burger with fries, they just looked to amazing to pass up. I was extremely glad that I did because wow what a burger and fries. Ninos beef dishes are only made with Angus or Wagyu beef, both being the best in the beef world. It will be hard to ever top a burger like that. The menu is filled with some other amazing dishes such as fries tossed with truffle oil and an array of pasta and risotto dishes just to name a few. I sure hope to get to try many more in the future.
The prices are not that steep expect to pay what you would at most restaurants. Although a few dishes are a bit pricier than others I would still have to say the pricing is pretty average. With the service, location, look, and food that you get I would defiantly say this is a top notch establishment that offers only the best. Ninos is a true gem of Riyadh in the dining world.
Riyadh may not has Jeddah’s beautiful beaches, but when it comes to restaurants and dinning culture, Jeddah has nothing on Riyadh, and I think Jeddah’s restaurants can learn a thing or two from Riyadh, especially regarding smoking policy, but I digress. Nino, the Italian restaurant, is perhaps my favorite restaurant in the world. I fell in love with it when I first visited the original restaurant in Bahrain, and in my many visits to that lovely island throughout the years, Nino is always my first choice to eat. So when it opened in Riyadh, it made me hopeful that someday may be it will reach Jeddah as well. Last year I was in Riyadh for a brief business trip, so naturally, it was my chance to eat my favorite dishes in my favorite restaurant.
When you are at Nino and the cheerful waiter hands you the menu, your mind will be blown by how extensive it is. So I am going to talk to you about my personal favorites. For soup you can’t go wrong with Zuppa Di Funghi (Mushroom soup, 26 SR). For salad, you have got to try the Roca Salad (rocket leaves with generous parmesan cheese, pine nut, sundried tomatoes, and lemon dressing, 24 SR), it is simple but so good. Appetizers are really one of their strongest offering, and for that I recommend the Routini Sliders (mini burgers with grilled onion and balsamic aioli, 36SR) which in itself can be a main dish, and it is hands down the best sliders I have tasted anywhere, served with delicious and crispy fries. You also should try Nino Chicken Livers (crispy livers grilled with onion, chili, and aioli, 32 SR), because you’d taste nothing quite like it anywhere else.
The pizzas and the Panini sandwiches are also great. You may wanna try the Quattro Staggioni pizza which is divided in 4 quarters, each with different kind of toppings (40 SR). The pasta menu is one of the most extensive sections, and although everything looks delicious, but the Quattro Fommaggi (pasta rich in sauce of four different kinds of cheese, 45 SR) is just marvelous. You can also try the Ravioli Al Funghi (ravioli stuffed with mushroom and cheese with mushroom sauce, 46 SR). For main entries, the Steak Al Funghi is great for meat lovers (beef medallions with Portobello mushroom, 74 SR). After this big meal, if you saved a place for dessert, then you can’t go wrong with the Tiramisu (24 SR).
If you think that is everything in the menu, then you will be mistaken. The menu has a sushi section, a hamburger section, and also sections for diet salads, appetizers, pastas and risottos, main courses, and even diet desserts. That and of course many different kinds of hot and cold beverages, including some of the most refreshing cocktails I have had in my life. It also serves breakfast, which makes it ridiculously versatile.
I have recommended Nino for many of my friends throughout the years, and they are all but one became big fans of it. It is a place that offers great food of great quality and good prices. You go and try it yourself, and may be you too will consider it your absolute favorite restaurant.