On our first night at Danat Jebel Dhanna, we were scheduled to have dinner at one of their restaurants, Zaitoun. The restaurant is beautiful! There are 2 different dining areas for it indoors and there is also outdoor seating available. Zaitoun is Danat Jebel Dhanna’s signature Italian dining venue, and it really deserves a lot of praise. The decor is lovely. It’s sophisticated, yet has a rustic touch. It’s perfect for a romantic date or a special occasion.

They’re also very family-friendly, so we brought our little Khalifa in with us. The staff are so thoughtful and they brought out a high chair for him immediately. They soon presented us with three different set menu options, all of which look so appetizing. I saw a few things that I liked on each set menu, and when I asked if I could mix and match from each menu, they were very accommodating. My husband did the same.

Like every good Italian restaurant, they brought out bread and several dips.

Since Khalifa’s palette isn’t really too impressed with fine Italian cuisine, I asked them if they could bring out a small plate of fries for Prince Charming, and they were so happy to do so.

For drinks we ordered delicious fruity mocktails, which were freshly made and brought out quit quickly. Both were delicious and even picky-eater Khalifa really liked mine, which was more on the smoothie side of the spectrum.

For starters, I got the Insalata Caprese, which is mozzarella marinated with beets, candied walnuts, bread croutons and basil leaves with a splash of decadent aged balsamic vinegar. I love the creaminess of the mozzarella, and the contrast between the sweetness of the candied walnuts and the balsamic vinegar.

My husband got the Carpaccio di Manzo, and usually he’s not much of a carpaccio kinda guy, but he really loved this one. His plate was cleaned up! The thinly sliced black angus beef came with a peppercorn aioli, salad greens and a cleverly crafted bowl made from parmesan cheese.

The presentation was beautiful on both of the dishes, but I especially loved the presentation of the carpaccio, and the parmesan bowl on it.

For mains, I got the Costolette di Angello con Patate, which literally translates to ribs of lamb with potatoes, but along with that came green beans cherry tomatoes and a lovely rich gravy.

My husband opted for the Tagliatelle pasta which came with prawns, asparagus and a lovely tomato and cream sauce. I liked my dish but after tasting what he ordered, I really wanted to switch plates! It was so on point!

For desserts, my husband had Tiramisu, while I had the Pannacotta with fresh berries. Both were incredibly delicious. I loved the light, yet filling taste of the pannacotta. The tiramisu was presented in a very modern way, and it was nice and creamy with a punch of coffee flavor. I would highly recommend both desserts!

Who would have thought you can find such great quality Italian food 2 hours away from the closest city?! Honestly, I’m very impressed with the restaurant and the quality of the food and I’m very happy with the amazing service!

Ratings (0-5): 

• Staff/Service: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Food: 4.5
• Value for money: 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.75

Worth Trying?:  Yes! This is the perfect setting for a romantic evening out, regardless of whether you stay at the hotel or not. I would definitely even consider a drive out on the weekend, enjoy the day access to the pool and beach, and end the day with a nice dinner at Zaitoun.

For more information, call Danat Jebel Dhanna at +971 (0) 2 801 2222.