AL GUSTO ITALIANO Is this Italian café worth a taste?

idden away in a corner of the high-end shopping mall Avenue At Etihad Towers is a small but stylish Italian café. Hard to spot if you don’t know it’s already there, Al Gusto Italiano is definitely worth searching for.

Pops of black punctuate an otherwise bright and airy space. Marble counters, cream furnishings and copper light fixtures add warmth to the venue, while jars of dried pasta and preserves are on display in shelves along the wall.

The restaurant has something of an ace up its sleeve with their head chef Earl Ramsay – he cut his teeth in Michelinstarred kitchens at the beginning of his career and it certainly shows. While the regular menu is Italian in spirit, Ramsay isn’t afraid to mix things up and add different cuisines or flavours to the table. The slow-roasted lamb burger (a daily

Hspecial item) was served on a French brioche bun with a trio of condiments including guacamole, homemade pickles and carmelised onions. Cooked overnight, the flavourful meat fell apart at the touch. Another fusion dish worth trying is the roasted corn, cilantro and jalapeño pizza. Served on a spicy arabiata base, expect a nice kick of heat.

The only misseteps came in the form of a sickly sweet strawberry milkshake and the trio of bruschetta. The appetiser included three types (salmon ceviche, goats cheese and bresaola with parmesan and avocado). While the flavours were tasty, the bread itself was rock hard.

For dessert order the moist carrot cake (one of the best we’ve had in the city), but be warned the waffles were served cold, an oversight in our opinion, alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Be sure to order a coffee, even if it is just to admire the impressive latte art from the barista.

With such a small menu, the café does most of its business from regulars who live around the area. But it’s worth checking out even if you’ve got to drive. Food is of a good standard and beautifully presented.

Avenue At Etihad Towers, Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, Sat to Thur 8am to 10pm, Fri 4pm to 10pm. Tel: (02) 6666444. Taxi: Etihad Towers. algustoitaliano.com