Fi'Lia Restaurant - Nassau, Bahamas

The Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas has numerous restaurants located on the resort. From Asian to Italian, the resort has plenty of options for every palate. When it comes to Italian, guests are treated to a menu created by James Beard Award winning chef Michael Schwartz. I only ate one meal at Fi'Lia Restaurant but that was due to difficulty getting finding an open seat at the bar more than any other factor. The restaurant was steadily booked during my visit.

I visited Fi'Lia Restaurant during dinner. A couple of friends and I managed to squeeze in at the bar on a Friday evening. The menu is conducive to sharing, which we did a bit. However, while the portions are large, it is not inconceivable to order directly from the menu for one person. We shared a variety of dishes which included the Fi'lia Chopped Salad, Bread Pudding and Rigatoni Bolagnese. We ordered a few other items, but these were the ones I tried. The chopped salad was a bit much. It was a large portion but was very savory. In retrospect, I would probably order the Citrus Salad. The bolagnese was delicious, with fresh pasta and rich sauce. The bread pudding was a savory bread dish that was served with a chicken dish on the menu. I am not sure if it was meant to be served the way we ordered it. It was an interesting garlic-y bread normally served with the grilled chicken dish.

Walking in to Fi'Lia Restaurant, guests are treated to the dizzying aroma of garlic and herbs. It is a rich, mouth-watering experience that will make you hungry just walking in. Before our meals arrived, we were treated to fresh bread with olive oil dip. The bread was delicious. I could have easily just gorged myself on bread. While I wasn't a fan of the salad, it was a large portion for the price point. The pasta was a bit more expensive, but was delicious. Like Stix Restaurant, it seems difficult to accept a pasta dish that runs more than twenty dollars, but you are paying resort prices. Having said that, the prices for a James Beard Award winning meal seemed pretty much in line with what one should expect. Protein-based dishes start in the mid-20s (Braised Short-Rib Crispelle) and run all the way to 160 dollars for the 42 ounce Bisteca Fiorentino.

Fi'Lia Restaurant can be expensive. However, the portions are large and the meal is from an award-winning chef. A James Beard Award winner, which is not small feat. I still take issue with a twenty dollar pasta dish, but the fact that you are eating at a James Beard rated restaurant should be an indication that you are going to pay more. Compared to other restaurants on the resort, *Fi'Lia" is really not that expensive. It is relatively comparable to the prices you will pay at other restaurants on the resort. For that reason, if you can get in, you should try. You won't likely be disappointed.

If you are staying at the Baha Mar, you have plenty of dining options. Keep in mind that you should make reservations at the restaurants that take reservations. Restaurants like Fi'Lia fill up in advance. You won't likely get in without a reservation. At least, not at dinner time. You are fortunate if you find space at the bar. It is a nice, upscale restaurant with prices in line with the rest of the resort. If you get the opportunity, make the reservation.

Photos are taken from the Fi'Lia restaurant in keeping with Fair Use for the purposes of this review. They are otherwise subject to copyright.