Mexican restaurant Cocina La Cantina — on Sari Road in Jeddah’s Al-Zahra district — offers a menu focused on traditional flavors with contemporary twists.
I started with three salads, including maiz del fuego and verde brasa. The charred corn and kale were well prepared, and the dressings reflected traditional Mexican flavors.
The seafood dishes — lamica roja and aguachile de camaron — were fresh and retained their natural texture and taste. Guacamole served with crispy plantain provided a simple balance to the spiced dishes.
The tostadas, especially the salmon and smoked crab versions, were well executed, with each ingredient distinct and flavors authentic. The menu offers a variety of options.
I also tried the birria quesadilla, featuring slow-cooked beef with Oaxacan-style cheese in a blue corn tortilla, and the ribotes — charred corn ribs topped with cotija, lime, tajín, and smoky morita mayo. Totopos with guacamole and pico de gallo completed my round of starters.
For mains, I had pollo enmolado, with 48-hour marinated chicken in chintextle mole served with XO rice; pipian del mar, featuring salmon with molokhia pipian and macha oil; and carne asada suprema, a 24-hour marinated Wagyu 5+ striploin with guacamole and salsa verde.
The proteins were fresh and cooked to order, with sauces and marinades complementing the dishes as described.
The menu uses Mexican-style names but includes clear descriptions, and the staff are knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. For more information, visit @lacantina.ksa.
RIYADH: If you are looking for high-end Italian food in Riyadh with an ambience as great as the menu, Agio is the place to go. Tucked into The Canopy in central Riyadh in the Hittin neighborhood, Agio is a great location for those looking for Italian that is farther away from heavy traffic on the weekends.
The restaurant draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast of Italy, with the flavors, colors and aroma of Capri making its way into the Agio experience. Agio describes itself as “the celebration of food of the Capri coast” as its menu blends traditional dishes with new flavors and innovative twists.
When entering, you can choose to either sit on the upstairs outdoor terrace or at the indoor tables downstairs. If you are going when the weather is pleasant, I would certainly recommend sitting upstairs, as the scenery, view and decor is unbeatable.
For the menu, I would opt for appetizers like the bresaola, which costs SR112 ($30) — it is a great starter for a classic Italian dinner as it blends flavors of Spanish beef with parmesan. If you are looking for a carb and creamy starter instead, Agio’s sformato di patate is a delicious option.
Priced at SR38, the appetizer brings together baked potatoes with a warm creamy cheese sauce. The menu offers other appetizers with many including soup, calamari and salad.
Limoncello Tiramisù. (Supplied)
Their baby calamari (SR132) and Flamengo tomato soup (SR45) are both worth trying if you are looking for more appetizers for the table.
Moving onto mains, the pasta and ravioli menus are excitingly diverse. With a vast array of options to choose from, I would order multiple options to share for the table as you do not want to limit yourself to one dish.
A favorite of mine would be the rigatoni piccanti (SR95), which blends creamy pink sauce with spicy aromas from the chili sauce. For truffle lovers, Agio offers both a ravioli and risotto option. Risotto al tartufo (SR275) is a classic creamy risotto shaved black truffle. For those who favor a good ravioli, the truffle & pecorino ravioli (SR115) is a creamier option due to the soft ricotta filling.
Agio offers a vast menu for mains which ranges from the pastas listed above to many more, as well pizza, meat, fish and chicken selections. The veal Milanese (SR210) and branzino di sofia (SR185) are great protein-based dishes to pair alongside your selected pastas and pizzas.
Be sure to save some space for dessert because Agio’s dessert menu truly brings a taste of Capri to the table.
If you are looking to dive into the zesty lemon flavors of the Amalfi Coast, I recommend either the torta della nonna (SR70) or the limoncello tiramisu (SR105). The torta della nonna is a nutty and lemony pastry dessert option, whereas the limoncello tiramisu is a soft mascarpone cream dish. For those looking to try more traditional dessert options, I would opt for the classic tiramisu.
While Agio is a delicious option for anyone looking to try a Capri-style restaurant in Riyadh, the restaurant is certainly on the higher-end price wise; but if you are willing to spend a little extra, Agio’s menu is worth the visit.
