Great Italian food – but quite overpriced: Restaurant Il Baretto (9. May 2023)
I’m always a bit sceptical when it comes to Italian restaurants outside of Italy, and, to be honest, even more so when we talk about an Italian restaurant in the Middle East, but I must say that it is actually quite lovely. And very surprisingly, this place you need to book in advance. Even on a Tuesday evening, it’s absolutely crowded and even when you have a reservation, you will still have to wait a bit. The selection and quality of the bread provided is quite good as a start.
The first appetizer that evening were “green beans and artichokes (green beans, artichokes and sun-dried tomato salad with shallots and white balsamic dressing)” (78.00 SAR) and it was surprisingly refreshing and enjoyable.
The “vitello tonato (thinly sliced roasted veal loin with smooth tuna sauce and pickled baby carrots)” (109.00 SAR) looked nice, but was actually not entirely persuading. I mean, sure, definitely decent, but far from amazing.
The “lobster linguine (linguine with fresh lobster meat, red sweet chilli and fresh tomatoes)” (256.00 SAR) were good, but they were not 62.00 CHF good! I mean, sure, lobster isn’t the cheapest of all ingredients there is, but hey, 62.00 CHF for pasta is just a bit over the top (if not massively over the top).
The “ravioli del plin (short ribs ravioli, butter and sage sauce)” (168.00 SAR) on the other hand were wonderful. The greatest thing was that the pasta was perfectly al dente, which is something I had definitely not expected to find in Saudi Arabia. Still, though, the price for a rather tiny plate of pasta is a over the top.
The “Tiramisù” (85.00 SAR) was surprisingly nice. Not the best I’ve had in my life, but on the enjoyable side of things.
Frankly, I’m a bit torn about the Il Baretto. On the one hand side, the food is wonderful, but on the other hand side, the prices are just ridiculous – especially from a European perspective when you’re used to paying barely anything for exactly the same when you’re in Italy. In any case, you will absolutely have to book your table at the Il Baretto in advance since the place was fully booked!
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Il Baretto
KAFD 5.08 KAFD, 2822 – 6591
13519 Riyadh (KSA)
Tel.: +966 9200 125 08
Homepage: https://ilbaretto.sa/
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
