In the world of delicious dining, it is true that the little restaurant tries harder, and often achieves the greatest satisfaction.

This maxim is evident at Serenata, an owner operated restaurant on the fast-developing Marjan Island, in Ras Al Khaimah, where a few tables alongside the beach offer an authentic Italian dining experience second to none!

And I mean so good that you could be seated at a restaurant on the Amalfi Coast…

You see, it’s the attention to small details.

It’s the care and attention that goes into providing a stellar dining experience, with pride of ownership.

And that is precisely what can be missing in the large, commercial restaurant outlets… so many staff, so many operations, factory quantities… but no soul.

Serenata, instead, carries its heart in hand – it is all soul!

A bottle of fresh, young, and slightly effervescent white wine (from the motherland, Italy, of course!) is in fact served in an ice bucket at the table… so that the temperature remains perfect.

But of course it is.

Chef Francesco Romano is a veteran chef who has set up and run many restaurants in his career – and he knows what is done right, and what is a shortcut.

And at Serenata, you will find no shortcuts, for a fully satisfying lunch or dinner.

And I’d recommend the seafood – Chef Francesco is a native of the Italian islands just off the coast of Naples, after all!

Super fresh, and extravagantly tasty, the mussels were an excellent start.

They were accompanied by a contrasting seafood dish – the fried calamari and shrimp – so different in texture that it really made for a winning combination with the pot of mussels.

And so light and crispy!

No wonder this is such a popular dish, loved all over the world.

For mains, Chef Francesco captured the essence of the sea and put it on a plate…

A marvelous flavor, and generous use of fresh seafood, expertly cooked with Acquerello rice, considered to be the finest risotto rice available.

In fact, you could travel the entire coastline of the UAE, sampling every risotto di mare you come across, and I do sincerely believe you would not find a better version!

Indeed, the best food is that which is prepared with love.

As a child, your dear Mother’s love… and later in life, you find Chef Francesco at Serenata.

I will leave the outdoor seating for you to discover – but it is shady and practically on the beach!

Whether you are visiting for the day or just for a quick drink and snack, Serenata has you covered.

I focused on the seafood dishes, but you will also find a well-developed menu of Italian specialities, as well as pizzas.

For dessert, a real, authentic, homemade tiramisu’ and torta al cioccolato… followed of course by the original super-short Neapolitan coffee!

What more can one ask for in life?

For an exceptional authentic Italian meal on Marjan Island, RAK, escape out of your hotel grounds if you are staying overnight, and enjoy real Italian delicacies in a cozy friendly restaurant – Serenata Restaurant and Bar – by the beach.