What’s the concept?

Situated in the popular tourist spot Souk Madinat, Trattoria Toscana is a mid-range Italian restaurant with views over Jumeriah’s Venetian-inspired canal. Expect authentic Italian flavours (the head chef hails from Tuscany) along with soft Italian music and a relaxed atmosphere (many guests dined in flip flops).

Food highlights?

There’s plenty of fuss-free simple Italian dishes, that are great for sharing. For starter, try the ‘Bruschetta al Pomodoro’ (toasted homemade bread and diced tomatoes) and the ‘Burrata e Pappa al Pomodoro’ (Andria’s burrata cheese with relish). For mains, there’s a range of pasta, risotto, pizza and meat and fish dishes. The ‘Pici allo Scoglio’ (pici pasta, egg yolk, shellfish, tomato, chilli and parsley)is delicious and well worth a try. The restaurant also has decent number of gluten-free dishes, including a gluten-free spaghetti, shrimp and zucchini dish and a gluten-free coconut panna cotta with strawberry compote.

How was the service?

The serving staff hail from Italy, and are well-versed in the both the food and drinks menus, as well as the locality of the produce. The staff were quick and on the ball, which was particularly commendable considering the fact the restaurant was at full capacity when BBC Good Food Middle East visited.

What’s the atmosphere like?

Expect a laid-back, busy atmosphere, with plenty of tourists stopping by to sample a glass of white and pizza in-between shopping at the different Souk outlets. The best seats can be found outside during the cooler months, overlooking the Madinat’s busy waterway.

For more information visit Trattoria Toscana. The full menu can be viewed here.