Riyadh Restaurant Reviews

I wanted to create this page to help people find nice and romantic restaurants in Riyadh. There seems to be new restaurants popping up all the time but it's difficult to find a restaurant with relaxed and romantic ambiance combined with good quality service and food! Here's a list of a few of my favorites, keep checking for more updates!


Piatto
I had wanted to try out this Italian restaurant located on the Northern Ring Road for a long time because of its inviting appearance. What especially sparked my interest was the outdoor area adorned with a large fountain and a lovely terrace. I could not wait to be able to sit outside by the fountain listening to the water flowing. In my mind I had pictured this restaurant as a romantic restaurant for couples. Finding such a pleasant family section area outdoors in Riyadh seemed too good to be true.

To my great disappointment, it was too much to ask for. The outside seating area is not in use for dining, it only serves its purpose as a waiting area for people when the restaurant has closed its doors for prayer.  I had a feeling the "no eating outside" rule might have something to do with the religious cops aka muttawa.

Despite the initial disappointment and my wrong expectations of the venue, our dining experience was very positive. The inside area was equally attractive with a large courtyard and more fountains. There is no music but happy chatter and sounds of children filled the restaurant. This is definitely a restaurant designed for families. There is even a large play area complete with computer games and a ball pit on the second floor of the restaurant

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When we were there with our baby the restaurant was very full and the waiters were busy but nevertheless remained very friendly, considerate and professional.  You can choose between sitting in the lovely "Piazza" among the fountains or in one of the more private booths in the family section. There were plenty more tables on the second floor overlooking the Piazza but unfortunately they did not serve to those tables.

For starters we ordered the meatball sliders which any kid would love! These mini burgers were very

appetizing and well presented. The restaurant offers a complimentary garden salad and a delicious bread basket. The kids get their own menu which is also an activity booklet they can keep.

The menu has a long list of creative pasta dishes to choose from. I loved the broad pizza menu even more. So many interesting toppings to choose from such as wild mushrooms, smoked salmon, rosemary potatoes, goat cheese and arugula. We ordered their most popular pizza, sundried tomato, pesto and goat cheese pizza.

The pizza was amazing, the crust was thin and crispy and the taste was perfect. Would have ordered another one straight away if we weren't already bursting from all the different foods we tried! The pastas were delicious, although to my taste a bit too salty. Another positive surprise was how many healthy food choices were on the menu such as the grilled chicken and salmon dishes.

For dessert the restaurant offers a variety of Gelato, Italian ice cream. The only problem was choosing which one to try from all the wonderful flavors! The coffee ice cream was divine and we also tried their crème brulee which was fab and had a very authentic Italian feel to it.

This place has the genuine Italian family-oriented feel and warmth to it. I would highly recommend it for families with small children or for a group of friends. 

Set Al-Sham- Under the Six Suns
This is a Middle-Eastern restaurant with a buffet of different Arabic foods you can sample. The decor in this place is simply amazing. They have combined ideas from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf countries. The restaurant is a large building of its own on Thalateen street. They even have a parking hall downstairs and you will be taken up to the family section in a lavish elevator.

 What makes this place romantic is of course the privacy. You can have a choice of private rooms each decorated with Middle-Eastern ornaments or sit in the open area next to a beautiful fountain. This is their "wedding" room for two decorated in red and silk and must be booked in advance. It comes with a set menu.

 The corridors are lined with decorative lanterns and wooden doors to the private rooms. Rooms have a bell inside that you call to get the waiter to come to you.

The open area has a Syrian style fountain in the middle.

 The appetizers are delicious, fresh and neatly displayed and there are plenty to choose from. Their Tabbouleh is amazing!

The main courses are a bit limited but nevertheless tasty and you won't have much room after all those appetizers any way!

 For desert this restaurant has excellent "Umm Ali" and rice pudding to die for. Good thing is you can have as many as you like! Dates, Arabic coffee and Arabic pastries are also available.

 And of course the evening would not be complete without Saudi Champagne!

The restaurant has efficient, knowledgeable and friendly service. The waiters are all from Arab countries.

Najdi Village Tradition and Romance

There is just something so very romantic about sitting on the floor of your own little lantern-lit Saudi style majlis, sipping on Arabic coffee and sampling traditional foods under the stars. You can do all this at the traditional Saudi restaurant Najdi village located on Abu Bakr street opposite Prince Sultan university.

This place would also be a MUST VISIT for all tourists and expats in Riyadh. The restaurant is a traditional style Najd house where the downstairs is reserved for men and upper floor is for families. The building itself has many interesting details and displays the traditional Saudi lifestyle, decor and architecture very vividly.  There is a water mill in the middle of the courtyard.

Food is great and very reasonably priced allowing the visitor to order many dishes for sampling. A meal with five dishes would cost around 100 riyals. This is the only place where you can try very unique and originally Saudi dishes like Jareesh, Haneeni,Marasiya and Mataziz, but also the more "modern" Saudi food like chicken Kabsa. There's lots of lamb dishes and of course camel!

Customers can choose to dine in their own rooms which resemble a traditonal Najdi majilis (living room) with a fireplace and airconditioning or in a tent like setting. Both places the seating will be on the floor and eating by hands. They do have utensils for "tourists" aka westerners though.

The customer will be served to arabic coffee and dates by Asian staff dressed in Saudi attire!

Complete privacy in the beautiful traditional setting with delicious Saudi foods to choose from!

Cento per Cento
This is an Italian restaurant on Olaya street. In my opinion it is one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The place is quite new and the decor is modern and very attractive. Atmosphere is relaxed and quiet backround music is played (not so common in Riyadh). You have a choice of sitting in several different open areas, private booths or even a romantic private room with a set menu.

 There's  also a larger private party room which can have up to 15 guests. The restaurant also offers catering services.

Service is efficient and polite and in the booths you can press the "callbell" for the waiters.
The food is overall great, and for a Riyadh restaurant the salads were of good standard too!They don't have pizzas but the pastas were delicious although I had hoped for a bit more home-made feel to the actual pasta. Other main courses we tried were good too. For the deserts I would recommend the Pannacotta sampler, simply mouth-watering! The price range is average to high.
One peculiar thing about this restaurant is that they have a huge wine rack! We tasted one of these non alcoholic wines and they were actually not bad. This is definitely the place to go for a romantic night out or with a group of friends.

Il Terazzo- Brazilian breezes in Riyadh

 This restaurant is special in many ways. It has a mixed open area and buffet, it plays cool ehtnic music, women can sit outside on a terrace and it does not have closed booths. All of these qualities are normal elsewhere in the world, but this restaurant is one of a kind in Riyadh.

 The restaurant is situated in the Faisaliah hotel complex on a huge terrace overlooking the courtyard fountains and with a view to the tower. The atmosphere is relaxed and there is an open barbeque that spreads delicious aromas around the terrace. 

The restaurant offers a buffet starting at 8 pm every evening, it will cost you 200 SAR plus drinks but it´s totally worth the extra! The food is fab and the idea is to give the customers a chance to try out as many meats as possible. Il Terrazo has by far the best salads in town, the prodcue is fresh and  a wide variety is available at the buffet. 

The meat is served by Kenyan waiters to your table on big barbeque sticks. Meats on offer are for example lamb, crocodile, baby camel, kudu, salmon, chicken and giant shrimps. After you have eaten as much meat you want it´s time for the desert buffet, which is fantastic with many choies, plus there is an ice cream bar on top of all that eating!

I love this restaurant mostly because of it´s location and the relaxed atmosphere. Even though it´s hot outside, the cooling mist and breeze on the terrace makes it a lovely experience overall. They will even sing the customer a happy birthday song and play drums and guitars for you! Reservations are needed as this place is very popular among businessmen and expats. This is the place to bring your visitors to Riyadh to!