Serving authentic Italian eats at The EmQuartier shopping centre
| THE latest venture from the same team behind Piri Piri Flaming Chicken and Café Fish restaurant chains, and The Cliff Bar & Grill in Koh Samui, is all about pizza, pasta, risotto and seasonal Italian dishes served family-style (perfect for sharing, that is) – and at reasonable prices, too. |  |
Located in the basement of mall-of-the-moment The EmQuartier, and designed to resemble a typical Rome-style eatery (think exposed brick walls, leather sofas, and an open kitchen) Bella Ducci certainly looks the part – trendy without being pretentious, casual without being sloppy – and with red-blooded Italian Chef Sergio Martelli (of The Cliff Bar & Grill in Koh Samui) responsible for the recipes, the menu delivers authenticity too.
The pizzas – thin, crispy, baked in a wood fired oven – are a great place to start, especially popular selections such as Pepperoni E Funghi (B320++), topped with Italian pepperoni, bacon and mushrooms; Diavola (B340++), featuring mozzarella, tomato, meatballs, bacon, chilli and roasted garlic; and Greek Pizza (B340++), laden with mozzarella, tomato, feta cheese, pepper, onions and oregano.
The pizzas – thin, crispy, baked in a wood fired oven – are a great place to start, especially popular selections such as Pepperoni E Funghi (B320++), topped with Italian pepperoni, bacon and mushrooms; Diavola (B340++), featuring mozzarella, tomato, meatballs, bacon, chilli and roasted garlic; and Greek Pizza (B340++), laden with mozzarella, tomato, feta cheese, pepper, onions and oregano.
The homemade pasta selection features highlights such as Spaghetti alla carbonara (B260++), salty and creamy without being cloying; Spaghetti Con Polpette (B260++), loaded with flavorsome meatballs; and Fettucini Ai Gamberti E Cognac (B340++), featuring juicy tiger prawns and a delicious cognac cream sauce.
The risottos, meanwhile, are rich and creamy but retain plenty of pleasing bite, especially Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare (B320++), cooked with prawns, squid and clams; and Wild mushroom & Porcini risotto (B300++), earthy and moreish to the very last bite.
Rounding out the menu is a short list of grilled mains (including Rump steak, Sicilian chicken, and Salmon fillet), a delicious mixed berry Cheesecake (B185++) and a decent Italian Tiramisu (B185++). A good selection of International wines, Italian coffees, local beers and cocktails are also available.
The EmQuartier (B Fl). Food Hall. Open daily 10am-10pm. ☎ 02 261 0301
The risottos, meanwhile, are rich and creamy but retain plenty of pleasing bite, especially Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare (B320++), cooked with prawns, squid and clams; and Wild mushroom & Porcini risotto (B300++), earthy and moreish to the very last bite.
Rounding out the menu is a short list of grilled mains (including Rump steak, Sicilian chicken, and Salmon fillet), a delicious mixed berry Cheesecake (B185++) and a decent Italian Tiramisu (B185++). A good selection of International wines, Italian coffees, local beers and cocktails are also available.
The EmQuartier (B Fl). Food Hall. Open daily 10am-10pm. ☎ 02 261 0301
