I’m sure you have been waiting with bated breath for my report back on my meal at Jamie’s Italian in Festival City. So without further ado, here it is.
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First impressions: well the criticism that I had heard or read about the restaurant before I went was largely to do with the décor and the lack of liquor license. Well the liquor license is under process, and we went for lunch, so that isn’t really a deal-breaker in this case (in my opinion), so I’ll deal with the décor instead.
I don’t feel that the place looked unfinished. It has clearly been decorated to look that way, clean and simple. But the problem I have with it that whilst it’s fine for lunch time I certainly would not go there for a long lazy romantic dinner. The tables are reminiscent of a canteen to me, long trestles interspersed with smaller round tables – all with uncomfortable chairs. Very café style. Very lunch-time.
I ordered a prawn pasta, and my friend had a wild mushroom ravioli. We both went for the main course portions, which were huge which was just as well at the price. 80 dirhams (about 21 USD) for mine. Ok so the pasta is freshly made, but still. Service was impeccable, as you would expect. I had a drink from the UK called “bottled green” which is kinda like a fruit flavoured water with a slight bubble, not too sweet and very refreshing. For you Saffers, kinda like a watered down apple-tiser. Nice!
We finished off with a coffee each, unfortunately in the attempt to be overly fussy they are using the worst coffee cups in the world, the ones you can’t actually hold properly and so ensure that you burn your fingers, hand or lips depending on when the cup slips.
Altogether I guess it’s worth a visit just to say you have tried it, and the food was tasty and delicious, but it’s just too expensive for a cheap bite, and not fancy enough for a special night out.
3 out of 5 overall, sorry Jamie.