By Anand Holla


Friday afternoon at La Piazza, the charming Italian restaurant at Al Bidda Boutique Hotel – part of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels collection (SWBH) – is now a rollicking affair for food lovers who value variety as much as authenticity.
Tucked away from the bustle of the Souq and yet not really cut off from all the buzz, La Piazza is high on elegance and even higher on serving traditional Italian cuisine.
Under the ambience of a stained-glass atrium that draws in lush, copious amounts of light from the summer sun, and a relaxing water feature in the centre, you can now tuck into an all-new brunch experience; an endeavour geared mostly towards the needs of families and children.
Known for its veritable spread of pastas, pizzas, antipasti, salads and gelatos, the restaurant certainly impresses with its buffet brunch, which is open on Fridays from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
Be it the baskets full of an assortment of fresh breads laid out with some jams, butter, cheese – ricotta, blue, emmental, parmesan – or a line of salads starring chick peas, sea food or diced carrots, there was something to suit every possible palate.
Tomato slices fused with chunks of mozzarella cheese tasted divine, and so did the cream of mushroom soup that seemed to have struck the fine balance of subtle, creamy taste and smooth, even texture. Bowls brimming with fresh greens, chunky cheese fatayer, and live stations for pasta and crepes were some of the several highlights of the neatly put brunch.  
The lavish spread packed in an eclectic mix of international, oriental and sea food choices, along with some delicious pizza and pasta; all topped with a sea of irresistible dessert choices.
Our in-house foodie Bilal Iqbal said, “The options available in the spread were so varied and all so appetising that I did not have the chance to try them all. I had to prioritise and choose from my favoured dishes.”
“The pizza looked thin and sparse, but dig in and you’ll find a surprising amount of toppings in there. Every bite was flavoursome and the taste miles ahead of fast food pizza joints, although I would have liked the thin crust to be a tad crispier,” he pointed out.
“The roast beef was a different thing altogether, offered in both tender and tough varieties. I prefer my meat to be tough, but not chewy, and the consistency was just right. I definitely preferred the tougher variety, with the accompanying herb sauce being the ideal topping,” Iqbal said.
About the new brunch, Taleb Al Henzab, General Manager at SWBH, said, “We are delighted to provide our guests and visitors with an unforgettable dining experience as an extra dimension to their memorable visit to the Souq. A wide variety of international and Italian food choices will be available and prepared in line with SWBH’s high standards of culinary excellence. Our Italian chefs combine the freshest produce with Mediterranean flavours to deliver sensational tastes.”
Central to the brunch experience is the children’s own buffet which includes, in addition to the most delectable dishes, several fun activities such as face painting, a puppeteer show, a play zone and much more for children to make the most of their visit to Al Bidda.
Bathed in warm elegance, La Piazza’s rich décor is inspired by classic Italian architecture that complements the local art pieces on display. Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH), the luxury, five-star hotel collection owned and managed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, re-launched La Piazza, its signature Italian restaurant with a revamped menu, four months ago.