First look: Get a taste of la dolce vita at Agio
Modern Food Company’s newest, homegrown venue brings the Mediterranean to you with flavourful dishes…
Located at The Canopy, Amalfi Coast-inspired gem Agio is Riyadh’s love letter to the coastlines of the Mediterranean. The Italian restaurant is the latest endeavour by Modern Food Company, a major player in the lifestyle and fine dining arena in Saudi Arabia.
At the entrance of Agio, a red and white Vespa makes for a memorable first impression. Step through the doors, and you’ll find a space that exudes a rustic charm. Think calming creams with Mediterranean-inspired pops of nautical blues and yellows, with colourful paintings of Positano and the surrounding Amalfi Coast area adding visual interest on the walls.
There are also different pockets of space ideal for any occasion: a main dining room with a view of the glassed‑off kitchen, offering diners a closer look at the culinary process, and a terrace upstairs with a bar surrounded by plants and flowers.
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Diners can look forward to a tantalising menu that promises a journey through the islands of Italy – all without the airfare. Agio embraces everything we love about Italian food: simple, well-sourced ingredients and dishes designed to share.
Helmed by Chef Filippo Pagani, the menu is inspired by his food memories of how his Nonna used to make it.
Pasta features heavily on his menu with creations like the goccia pasta tossed in a creamy pink sauce and Calabrian spicy chilli; thin green tagliolini pasta with creamy bechamel and veal prosciutto; and the black seafood ravioli with prawns and fresh tomato sauce. The ravioli quack is a standout, as the creaminess of the cheese is offset by the freshly ground black pepper and truffle shavings.
But there are fish and meat dishes if these are what you’re craving for – the veal ossobuco is worth ordering.
To end on a sweet note, opt for the tableside gelato. If you still have room for more, indulge in the tiramisu. You’ll find that the layers of delicate mascarpone cream, coffee-soaked sponge and cocoa are perfectly balanced – a classic Italian sweet to rightfully sum up a meal at Agio.
More than the food, Agio is also a destination for those who want to sail their way through spritzes and mocktails or savour some good ‘ol limoncello created in Italy just for Agio. Sip it with your eyes closed, and it could be your cheapest ticket to Italy.
Agio, The Canopy, Northern Ring Rd, Hittin, Riyadh 13512. Opens January 14. Tel: 9200 13860. @agiosaudi
Images: Social