Restaurant Review: La Pergola Italian Restaurant, Gulf Hotel, Bahrain
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Author: Britney B.
Released 12 December 2003
La Pergola
Photograph by Britney B.
La Pergola has undergone an inspired facelift since I last ate there a while ago.
Ornately painted vaulted ceiling and delightful wall murals depicting Italian country scenes make this a lovely spot to dine if you like Italian food and, as the restaurant specialises in traditional regional dishes as well as some old favourites, you may be spoilt for choice and also discover something a little different from the usual Italian restaurant fare. When I lunched there with my husband last week we enjoyed a well-cooked meal with courteous and efficient service.
La Pergola Ceiling
Photograph by Britney B.
I can never resist gnocchi when I eat Italian so as an appetizer I had to try the gnocchi di semolina con rotolo di spinaci-e-ricotta, which is semolina gnocchi and potato rolled, stuffed with spinach and ricotta, gratinated with parmesan cheese and served with tomato sauce - an absolutely superb start to a meal that I cannot recommend highly enough. My husband similarly enjoyed his choice of starter from the Italian regional cuisine menu of green and white pasta filled with ricotta and salmon, served with fontina cheese fondue. Also available are soups, salads and more regional starters, including homemade fresh basil noodles, tossed in seafood ragout and flavoured with pesto, and Italian rice cooked with chicken, asparagus and mushrooms. Appetizers, soups and salads are from BD1.800.
We wanted to try a couple of the regional dishes for our main course, so my husband chose sautéed veal escallops in a light thyme sauce, gratinated with roast peppers, artichoke and mushrooms, while I had the speciality chicken dish of La Pergola, pan-fried chicken breast filled with prawns. Both were very good.
La Pergola
Photograph by Britney B.
There is also an excellent choice of fresh pasta dishes. Select from spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, rigatoni and fusilli pasta and choose a sauce from the variety on offer. Alla carbonara (pork or beef bacon enriched with egg yolk and cream), alla marinara (assorted seafood, garlic and tomato sauce) and al pesto (basil, pine nuts and olive oil flavoured with garlic and parmesan cheese) are just examples. There’s also a vast choice of pizza (select from thin base, deep dish or calzone style and enjoy a choice of toppings), fish, vegetarian and meat dishes, including brochette of salmon, prawns, mussels and sea scallops on a bed of lemon risotto; pancake filled with fontina and vegetables, glazed with cheese sauce, and garlic; and herb marinated best end of lamb with fresh mint sauce. Prices for pasta and main course dishes are from BD3.600.
For dessert we had deep-fried ice cream with exotic fruits and chocolate sauce, and warm apple tart with lemon and orange sauce served with ice cream, and to accompany the meal a very good Nottage Hill Chardonnay.
Located just off the main lobby of the hotel, La Pergola is open for lunch from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. Saturdays to Thursdays, and for dinner from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. For reservations, call the restaurant’s direct line during opening times (973 17726186), or the Gulf Hotel’s main telephone number (973 17713000).
All prices are subject to15% service charge and 5% government tax.