New York and Rome celeb hotspot restaurant, Antica Pesa, has opened its doors in Doha at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha.
Frequented by the likes of Madonna, Mike Jagger, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Richard Gere and Leonardo Di Caprio in its international outposts, the restaurant remains true to its 17th century family-focused roots, with four generations of the same family having managed the restaurant over the last 93 years.
Francesco Panella, owner of Antica Pesa restaurants, said: "We are excited to open the doors of Antica Pesa to local food lovers offering ‘real Italia’ cuisine. The artistic design features, world-class food and beautiful setting of the restaurant makes for a truly authentic and unique experience that will redefine Qatar’s Italian culinary scene.”
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The menu is based on reworking traditional recipes from Roman cuisine and creating dishes using local organic products for seasonal dishes, with a nod to modern trends.
The restaurant’s name was an old Vatican customs post that collected taxes on grain in Rome. The antique customs officer decided to initiate a sort of eatery that offered bread and wine to the many peasants who came to the tollhouse. ‘The term The Old Scales’ or ‘Antica Pesa’ was coined in the late 19th century when the original customs function was replaced by a real restaurant.
Antica Pesa is set in the grounds of the new Doha property, with inside or outside dining on the terraces. There is a theme of iconic artwork throughout the décor of the restaurant with pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol, De Chirico and photos by Helmut Lang.
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