For a restaurant that's hidden away from the public view (worry not as your GPS maps provides you omnidirectional access), in the bylanes of Jumeirah, right behind Jumeirah Plaza to be exact, Per Te is a worthy find for its veritable Italian cuisine and cosy ambience.
Located in a duplex villa, the eatery looks normal from the outside, but once you step in, you discover a sprawling 150-cover eatery that has been divided into four sections - an al fresco sit out, an intimate, fine dining type seating, an all-wood fitted casual, coffee shop-type diner for the young and restless, and an open kitchen setting for those prefer to watch their meals being prepared.
The menu has a mix of specialties as well as the usual Italian fare. The choice is ample and offers everything from starters, to pizzas, pastas, seafood and more. The staff is quite helpful when it comes to navigating through the menu. So, we relied on their culinary wisdom and allowed them to suggest the best from the rest.
For starters, we got Crostini con Formaggio di Capra. As confusing as the name may sound to non-Italian speakers, in layman's terms,  it's simply a ciabatta bread topped with wild mushrooms and goat cheese. The bread was oven-fresh and went down well with the smoky flavoured cheese.

Crunchy start

The other starter, Calamari Fritti Con Sale E Pepe (fried calamari with rock salt and crushed pepper served with pesto mayo and lemon) won our hearts for its fresh, crunchy calamari. Dip the calamari ring in pesto . and you won't stop at one bite.
For our mains, we ordered Linguine Al Frutti Di Mare or Linguine pasta with mixed seafood tossed in chilli, garlic and cherry tomatoes. Now fresh ingredients have always been the hallmark of a great food joint and the freshness of the prawns, mussels and clams here deserve a mention. And if you are game for more pasta, then try their Penne All' Arrabbiata or Angry Pasta. The Penne dish, which comes rolled in a delectable spicy sauce, had everything going in its favour. Then why the 'angry pasta' tag? Guess it's the hot, spicy sauce, and also the fact that Arrabbiata in Italian means angry, mad or enraged.
Now pizza is a staple on most Italian menus, but Per Te's  pizzas are different. The base is moist and chewy and the toppings are not too overbearing, making them light and easy to devour. Try their Pizza Bufalina made with fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, it won't disappoint you. The pizzas are made in a wood-fired oven, and it impressed us for its smoky, woody flavour and fresh toppings.
Our meal ended with Lieto  - a bitter-sweet cocoa and chocolate cake with a mousse-like texture. Served with passion fruit semifreddo, the dish had a mouth-melting, candy fudge consistency, and tangy taste. However, it was the semifreddo that left a lasting impression for its atrtistic presentation. This homemade frozen dessert, made with vanilla and berries came inside an arty, caramelised cage. It's disheartening to break through this piece of art just to eat the dessert.
Top notch service, genial staff and homemade flavours, what more can you ask for.
Meal for two: Dh300
Ph: 04 3446455

michael@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai