Italian

Bristol

AMICI
239 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5QP
Tel: 0117 924 5879, web: www.amicirestaurant.co.uk
● Traditional Italian food cooked up with a modern twist. Owner Giancarlo Dall’Occo has travelled the world and puts his global culinary experience to great use at this very popular, always good-value-for-money restaurant. Traditional Italian surroundings, a relaxed atmosphere and cosy ambience, plus a huge menu with frequent updates and specials, keep this family-friendly eatery buzzing. Price ALC: starter £2.60-£6.50/pasta/pizza £6.50-£8.80/steaks & mains £11.90-£15.40 Wine list HW approx £10.60 ltr carafe, also by half-litre & gls Open Mon-Sat 6pm-2am, Sun 12noon-2am. Disabled access possible, restaurant on one floor, one step to toilet. Takeaway available. Parties of 20+ welcome.

ASK
51 Park St, BS1 5NT
Tel: 0117 934 9922, web: www.askrestaurants.com
● Big, bustling modern chain pizzeria from a company with over 200 UK outlets. Stylish and relaxed, and terrifically popular with big parties at weekends. The pizzas and salads are generous, and staff are efficient. Daily specials and party menus available. No bookings taken for small tables at weekends. Price ALC: £2.55-£10.95/pizza approx £6.25-£8.95/£9.25-£11.95/£3.25-£5.50 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. No disabled access. Private hire, up to 100. Parties of 20+ welcome, book in adv.

BELLA ITALIA
8-10 Baldwin St, BS1 1SA Tel: 0117 929 3278
The Venue Leisure Complex, Merlin Rd, Cribbs Causeway, BS10 7SR Tel: 0117 959 0982
NEW
Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX
Tel: 0117 927 7230, web: www.bellaitalia.co.uk
● Take a culinary tour around Italy in a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere and enjoy familiar Italian food cooked in open kitchens at these family-oriented franchise restaurants decorated in classic Italian style, with food to match. Wide selection of pizza, pasta and oven-baked dishes, plus ice-cream and puddings. All dishes containing nuts or other allergenic ingredients are clearly marked, and there are sugar-free squashes for the kids. Lots of fish, vegetarian dishes and house specials. Separate breakfast and kids’ menus available - see website for offers. Price ALC: £3.50-£5.95/pasta & pizza £7.25-£9.50/£10.95-£14.95/£3.25-£5.25 Wine list HW £13.50 btl, £3.60 gls Open Baldwin St: daily 9am-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). Cabot: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10.30pm. Venue Leisure Complex: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome.

BOTTELINO’S
22 Bond St, BS1 3LU Tel: 0117 926 8054
Emersons Way, Emersons Green, BS16 7AE Tel: 0117 957 3722
6 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster, BS3 4AQ Tel: 0117 966 6676
Court House, 110 High St, Nailsea, BS48 1AH Tel: 01275 858282, web: www.bottelinos.net
● Each branch of this long-established, family-run business offers top-notch traditional Italian food (including sturdy steaks and sexy fish dishes alongside a selection of classic pasta and 20+ pizza options), great value-for-money lunch deals and robust vegetarian options, always in a lovely, lively atmosphere. New free delivery at some locations - call or check website for specific details. Kids’ menu and special evening deals. Price ALC: £2.75-£9.50/pasta & pizza £9.20-£11.95/£12.45-£18.95/approx £4-£6. SL: any pizza or pasta £4.95 to eat in (Mon-Fri 11.30am-early eve) Wine list Classic Italian and European selection. HW £14.95 btl, £2.95 gls Open All branches approx Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11.30pm, but call specific branch for full details & Sun hours. Disabled access - call ahead for specific details and advice. Parties of 20+ welcome. Home delivery and takeaway - call for details.

CARLUCCIO’S
11 Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BU
Tel: 0117 933 8538
NEW
The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5DG
Tel: 0117 950 8760, web: www.carluccios.com
● Bristol gets another outlet of the famous cafe, restaurant and food shop originally founded in 1991 by celeb chef Antonio Carluccio and his family, specialising in all things authentically Italian. The new venue is located smack in the food court, er, The Avenue, at Cribbs, which doesn’t allow for the fantastic large alfresco area that makes the Quaker Friars site so inviting. ‘It’s exactly what you’d expect: open-plan restaurant, Italian deli and a good, honest menu with a smattering of daily specials and the same fixed-price offer you’ll find at any of the other 33 branches,’ wrote Venue’s reviewer. ‘Judging by the impressive turnover during the time we were there, it’s safe to assume that there are enough shoppers willing to pay a little extra to eat somewhere decent.’ Using fresh seasonal ingredients, Carluccio’s is home to everything from espresso and pastry for breakfast, light antipasti and salads to heart-warming main courses and decadent desserts. Kids get their own menu. Food shop sells authentic Italian gifts and treats. Price ALC: £4.60-£6.25/£7.50-£14.95/£3.75-£4.95. Set menu: 2 £9.95, 3 £12.95 (add a gls of wine for £3.50) Wine list HW £12.95 btl, £4.60 gls Open Cribbs: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm Sun 10am-7pm. Disabled access. Quakers Friars: Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access.

CASAMIA
38 High St, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DZ
Tel: 0117 959 2884, web: www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk
● With the previous year’s Michelin star still shining brightly, Casamia adds 3 AA rosettes to the trophy cabinet, as well as coming in the top 100 at the National Restaurant Awards. ‘Innovative and balanced Italian cooking which shows a high level of skill and is full of flavour,’ the big red book said, and who are we to disagree? Though we can proudly boast that we were there first and have been praising the place for almost as long as it’s been open: ‘You’d have to go a long way to find food as fascinating and extraordinary as the dishes Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias are serving up at Casamia right now: major recognition from the Michelin man is surely only a matter of time,’ we wrote. It’s always nice to be proved right, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer family. Casamia serves up fantastic, cutting-edge cuisine a la Heston Blumenthal, with a nod to the Italian classics, with the brothers whipping up a veritable gourmet storm in the kitchen, curing their own meats, baking their own bread, desserts, ice-creams and petits-fours, and creating dishes and menus dictated by availability from local markets and suppliers. The Times rated it one of the UK’s top 10 Italians, and it’s Which? Good Food Guide listed. ‘Eating out doesn’t get any better than this,’ wrote our man. Price SL: 2 £30, 3 £40. SD: 3 £38, Fri-Sat 3 £55 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £13.50 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm 6-10.30pm, Sat 12.30-2pm, 6-10.30pm. Disabled access possible, but call in adv. Parties – call in adv. Adv booking advised.

CIBO RISTORANTE
289 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NY
Tel: 0117 942 9475, web: www.cibo.co.uk
● Originally a top-notch Italian deli, Cibo now offers everything from wholesale online shopping to a great neighbourhood restaurant, deli and espresso bar. This year sees the most adventurous menu to date at this stylish, independent, well-established gourmet heaven, fusing traditional Italian flavours with ingredients from around the world: ostrich fillet panfried in rich wild mushroom sauce, and medallions of venison in juniper berry & port reduction. If you're after more traditionally Italian fare, chef Marco Olivieri serves up pizza and pasta with the same no-nonsense flair he brings to the whole Cibo menu, and there are lighter bites (tapas, sandwiches, soup) available all day. Tables can be booked online. Price SL: pasta/pizza £5. ALC: £4.95-£7.95/pasta & pizza £6.55-£10.95/main £7.95-£18.95/£4.95 Wine list Italian HW £11.95 btl Open Cafe: Mon-Thur 10.30am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 9.30am-11pm. Buffet (£6): Mon-Thur 12-3pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-5pm. ALC: Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm 6-10.30pm. Takeaway available. Disabled access. Parties of 20+ welcome - book in adv.

DOLCE VITA
76 Victoria St, Redcliffe, BS1 6DF
Tel: 0117 922 6688, web: www.dolcevitabristol.co.uk
● Giuseppe (from Marco’s), a man with around a quarter of a century of experience in the local restaurant scene, has transformed this once charming little restaurant into an authentic, friendly, family-run Italian bistro. A vast breakfast menu gives way to an all-day selection of homecooked treats, from fresh salads and light bites to sturdier offerings (steaks, fresh fish) alongside a daily changing range of fresh pastas. Bright, fresh dining room upstairs and an open fire downstairs for colder days, with Wi-Fi, and takeaway lunches, fresh coffee, etc, for those in a hurry. Takeaway or eat-in pizzas, and there’s a nice little alfresco area, too. Very student-friendly, with a 20% discount and evening meal deal of any pizza or pasta with a glass of wine for £7.95 (5-9.30pm). Price Breakfast approx £3.95-£7. ALC: starter £4-£7.95/pasta & pizza £5.95-£10.95/main £9.15-£18.95 Wine list Mainly European. HW approx £13 btl Open Mon-Fri 7am-late, Sat 9.30am-late (last food orders 9.30pm). Disabled access & toilet. Parties welcome - call in adv. Takeaway available. Student discount 20% with NUS card.

NEW (COMING SOON)
JAMIE’S ITALIAN
89 Park St, BS1 5PW
Web: www.jamieoliver.com/restaurants
● Bristolians wait with bated breath for the go-ahead from Bristol City Council for the opening of a Jamie's Italian in part of the Blackwell’s bookshop on Park Street. Plans include a complete refurbishment for a three-floor restaurant with an antipasti counter, fresh pasta machine and ‘bread station’, plus a ground-floor deli area selling Italian food, Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks and other kitchen products. Should all be open by the start of 2011 - keep an eye on Venue’s food and drink pages for updates and news.

LA CAMPAGNUOLA
9 Zetland Rd, Redland, BS6 7AG
Tel: 0117 924 8102/8372, web: www.lacampagnuola.co.uk
● La Campagnuola translates from the Italian as ‘the country girl’. Expect wholly authentic, regional Italian favourites (owner Filippo is originally from a small village in Sicily; his children Vincenzo and Marlangela now keep the family business going) in charming, welcoming surroundings. Wide selection of traditional Sicilian-influenced dishes, made with fresh ingredients, from delicious pastas to incredible, generous pizzas, seafood, veal, poultry and steaks. Family-friendly, and portions can be sized to suit children. Price ALC: £3.50/£6.50/£3.95 Wine list Extensive range, plus cocktails, beers/lagers, Italian liquers. HW approx £12 btl Open Sun-Thur 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-12.30am. Disabled access - call in adv. Parties welcome - call in adv. Takeaway available.

LA GROTTA
9 Union St, BS1 2DD
Tel: 0117 929 0466
● Long-established (quarter of a century), family-run, traditional trattoria, just opposite one of the entrances to the Galleries (hence its popularity with a carrier bag-laden clientele) and office birthdays. Great food in cosy surroundings: homecooked fare using fresh ingredients, including scrumptious pizzas, pasta and puds - a welcome alternative to the fast-food chains next door. The Papa Lounge (downstairs, with dancefloor) adds to the party atmosphere and is very popular for celebrations (private bookings only, call in adv). Price ALC: approx £3-£6/approx £5-£10/approx £3-£5. SL: 1 £4.95 Wine list HW £11.95 btl Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-2.30pm & 5-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12midnight, Sun 5-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties of up to 150.

LA TAVERNA DELL’ARTISTA
33 King St, BS1 4DZ
Tel: 0117 929 7712
● This family-run restaurant is a wonderful post-theatre haunt, where stars and Bristol’s boho creative crowd rub shoulders. Established for over 20 years, it’s become a very special part of Bristol life. The food is good, honest Italian fare with an atmosphere to match, whether for early-evening convivial conversation or the renowned late-night party feel. The restaurant manages to combine style and informality while it gets shoulder-to-shoulder downstairs. A unique, cherished institution. Price ALC: 3 £12.50-£25 Wine list Mostly Italian regional wines. HW approx £12.50 btl Open Tue-Sat. Restaurant: 5.30pm-12midnight. Bar: 5.30pm-2am. Disabled access to downstairs bar area, where they’re happy to serve meals. Private hire, up to about 100. Parties of 20+ welcome.

NEW
LA VOGLIA
130 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 6RW
Tel: 0117 944 2442, web: www.lavogliarestaurant.yolasite.com
● This Italian trattoria took over the premises of one30 (after posing as a Nigerian restaurant, briefly, as a set for Raymond Blancs ‘The Restaurant’), and the interior (comfy sofas, large windows and, now, gold mirrors) has retained the informal charm of its predecessor. Chef Sergio (of Sergio’s in Frogmore Street and Zetland Road fame) has been around long enough to know that many of us are after good-value, traditional, straightforward pizza, calzones and pasta, with seafood and sturdier mains in the evenings. As we went to press, there was a budget meal deal at lunch (£4.75 for pizza or pasta), and the BYO policy is quickly establishing this as a popular student haunt by day. It’s a more intimate, candlelit affair at night, with the personable Sergio making appearances. The Evening Post foresees promise: ‘La Voglia has opened at a good time and has the potential to become part of the area’s ever-expanding food scene with its good-value, no-frills Italian food.’ Price ALC: starter £2.95-£6.25/pasta & pizza £5.95-£8.95/main £10.50-£13.50 Wine list Fully licensed, plus BYO (£2 corkage charge) Open Mon-Thur 5.30-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-12.30am, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access.

MAMMA MIA
10a Park Row, BS1 5LJ
Tel: 0117 926 8891
● This central location in the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter has been around for 25 years and is firmly established as a popular late-night pizzeria for locals and visitors alike, serving traditional Italian fare such as pizzas, pastas and daily specials. Lots of nooks and crannies for romantic dinners for two, as well as room for bigger groups. Price ALC: £3.25/£8.40/£4.30 Wine list HW £11.80 ltr, £2.30 gls Open Mon-Thur 6pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access (two steps, but staff can assist) but toilets in basement.

MARCO’S
59 Baldwin St, BS1 1QZ
Tel: 0117 926 4869, web: www.marcositalian.co.uk
● Traditional, intimate Italian old-timer that’s been serving wonderfully fresh fish for over 50 years. Anything up to 15 different catches feature on the daily board, and the cuisine offers some French and English touches alongside trattoria classics. Romantic feel, although the location makes it ideal for business lunches (and it’s a lot bigger then it appears from the outside, with room for around 85 people). Top-notch service, overseen by Giuseppe, the Italian owner who originally worked at Marco’s over 25 years ago, and after a stint in London returned to Bristol to buy Marco’s for himself. Dolce Vita on Victoria St is also part of the empire. Price ALC: £4.50/£8.95/£4.50. SL: pasta £5.95 (inc gls wine/soft drink). SD: 2 £11.95 Wine list International. HW £14.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.45-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm. Disabled access, phone for advice. Function room for private hire, up to 35. Parties of 20+ welcome.

MAX’S ITALIAN BISTRO
3 Worrall Rd, Clifton, BS8 2UF
Tel: 0117 973 6577, web: www.maxsitalianbistro.co.uk
● Opened in 2005 by Max himself, a travel agent turned restaurateur who’s worked at Zizzi, San Carlo and Zio, this is authentic modern Italian cooking in bright and breezy surroundings that nevertheless offer an intimate, cosy ambience. It’s all very Italian, from the antipasti to the staff, with chefs bringing their own influences from Sicily and Rome. Menus take you on an in-depth tour of Italy, encompassing all regions and offering superb fish dishes alongside excellent pastas, risottos, salads and meat - and it’s all made on the premises using the best local produce. Chosen as one of the best Italian restaurants in the UK and Italy by Taste Italia magazine. Price ALC: £6.50/£7-£22.50/£4 Wine list Extensive. HW approx £13.95 btl Open Lunch served with 24hr adv notice, min 6 people. Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm. Disabled access - call ahead (short step into restaurant). Groups & parties welcome - call in adv. Private hire available.

PICCOLINO
1 Narrow Weir, Cabot Circus, BS1 3DU
Tel: 0117 929 3255, web: www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk
● Modern chain serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza and other Italian specialities. This vibrant restaurant and bar has a chic yet informal feel, ‘darkly decorated with neat, dark furniture, a glass cabinet dangling with fresh pasta and an ‘al forno’ woodstone oven roaring away at the back,’ recounted Venue’s reviewer, who was struck by the exuberance of the staff and the authenticity of the food. Everything, including pasta, bread and ice-cream, is freshly prepared on the premises. ‘The bread was fresh baked and tasty, the olive oil miraculously ungreasy, the olives firm and Italian. My carpaccio was an absolute pleasure - micro-sliced blushing pink beef that dissolved in the mouth with a wash of flavour.’ Split over two floors, with a striking bar, open kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven, it’s showy without being over the top, impressive but not expensive - and the alfresco patio is a welcome touch. Now offers a cocktail school where mere mortals can master the art of the mixologist - call for details. Price ALC: £3.50/£6.50/£4.25 Wine list HW £14.25 btl, £10.20 half-carafe Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm. Good disabled access. Private dining and parties catered for.

PIZZAEXPRESS
2-10 Regent St, Clifton, BS8 4HG Tel: 0117 974 4259
31 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HP Tel: 0117 926 0300
Unit 1, Building 8, Harbourside, BS1 5TY Tel: 0117 927 3622
35 Corn St, BS1 1HT Tel: 0117 930 0239, web: www.pizzaexpress.co.uk
● National institution that’s been going since 1965, serving quality produce and authentic Italian food in stylish contemporary surroundings. Lots of pizzas, pastas, excellent salads and good vegetarian options. This year, new guest chef Francesco Mazzei has brought his unique style of Calabrian cooking to new options on the menu. Lighter selections and kids’ menu available, too. Regent St: vast emporium on two floors - the region’s biggest branch. Berkeley Square: light, bright and buzzy, complete with big sofas in reception area. Corn St: city centre branch with bright and comfortable interior. Harbourside: huge 190-seat restaurant with alfresco dining for up to 80. Price ALC: £2.15-£4.75/pizza £6.20-£10.95/main £7.90-£9.45/£3.10-£4.90 Wine list Italian wines (inc organic) & liqueurs. HW £12.95 btl, £3.75gls Open Berkeley Sq, Corn St, Harbourside: daily 11.30am-11pm. Regent St: Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm. Good disabled access (Berkeley Sq & Corn St, with staff assistance for front step), toilets accessible. Regent St: large parties, up to 50. Berkeley Sq: parties of 20+ welcome. Harbourside: large parties welcome.

PIZZA HUT
Several branches across Bristol: see website
Web: www.pizzahut.co.uk
● You know what you’re getting with these sturdy, reliable pizzas and pasta, value-for-money deals and takeaway/delivery service (most branches). Can book on website as well. Price Pizzas £6.99-£13.99. Bargain-priced seasonal deals - call for details Wine list Italian & French. HW from approx £10 btl, £3.20 gls Open Visit website for details. Disabled access & toilets in most branches. Large-print menu. Takeaway available. Parties of 20+ welcome - notify in adv.

PIZZA PROVENCALE
29 Regent St, Clifton, BS8 4HR
Tel: 0117 974 1175, web: www.pizzaprovencale.co.uk
● Long-established, friendly, relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria where the dough is made fresh on the premises and pizzas are as far away from a chain restaurant as you can get. The welcome is as big as the pizzas (which, at up to 16in, are easily big enough to share), turning this charming little bistro into a local institution. Curious but effective decor, with church pews and Mediterranean feel. Serves individual Italian/French-inspired dishes (pizzas, pasta, fish, seafood) and vegetarian options. Well worth a trip. Price ALC: £3.60/£6.95/£3.25. SL: Mon-Fri 12noon-4pm (check with restaurant for daily deal) Wine list French HW £10.95 btl, £2.70 gls Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight. Disabled access possible, but not to toilet. Student discount 10%. Takeaway service. Private hire, up to 30. Parties of 20+ welcome.

PLANET PIZZA
83 Whiteladies Rd, BS9 2NT Tel: 0117 907 7112
187 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BG Tel: 0117 944 4717, web: www.planetpizza.co.uk
● With a small, buzzy restaurant/bar on Whiteladies Road and a slightly more subdued branch on the Gloucester Road site, Planet Pizza have a big local reputation for out-of-this-world pizzas at down-to-earth prices. Local artists adorn the walls and staff are familiar and friendly. Pizza toppings include the likes of halloumi cheese, sundried tomatoes & roasted red peppers with red onions. The generous salads are lush, the sweet things stellar. Both branches benefit from great alfresco areas out front, perfect for pizza scoffing and people watching. New smaller 9in pizza for £5. As they’re such nice venues just to hang out in, try the all-day coffee & cake for £2.90. Price starter £2.50/pizza 9in £5, 12in £7.95/dessert £3.50. 2-4-1 pizza Sun-Wed 5-7pm. SL: quarter-pizza with salad £3.95 (till 5pm) Wine list HW £12.50 btl, £3.40 gls. Lots of bottled beers & beer on draught Open Daily 11am-11pm. Disabled access - call in adv. Takeaway service, 10% discount. Private hire, both branches, up to 65. Parties welcome, booking & deposit required.

PROSECCO
25 The Mall, Clifton, BS8 4JG
Tel: 0117 973 4499, web: www.proseccoclifton.com
● ‘As an independent venture, Prosecco pretty much ticks all the boxes,’ said Venue’s contented reviewer. ‘It offers a different take on Italian cuisine: the cooking is thoughtful, the surroundings cosy and intimate, the service friendly and attentive.’ This charming, stylish restaurant, presided over by chef/owner Diego da Re, features some pretty unusual dishes that our man said ‘have an authenticity about them that puts them in the ‘superior home cooking’ category’. A warm welcome is aided by a smashing wine list, including the house prosecco, exclusively imported from a small vineyard in owner Diego’s home town of Conegliano, owned and run by friends from his childhood. Regular food/wine-tasting evenings (check website for details) are proving very popular. Price ALC: £4-£7.50/pasta £8-£12/£9-£17.50/£4.50-£7. Wine list Extensive, superb. HW £13.95 btl, £3.95 gls Open Mon-Sat 6-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-2.30pm. Disabled access. Parties - call in adv.

RENATO’S
19 King St, BS1 4EF
Tel: 0117 929 8291
● Established for over 30 years and run by the same family as La Taverna Dell’Artista, this cosy, friendly, atmospheric bar-restaurant serves classic and quality Italian fare, with the pizzas providing a fabulous accompaniment to the general bonhomie. The Observer called the place a ‘much-loved favourite’ - and nobody who’s sampled the Renato’s experience could put up any argument to that. With its close links to stars of stage and screen (see photos all around the walls), Renato’s satisfies both culinary and cultural appetites, and is widely regarded as the place to be for any self-respecting thespian who wants to chill out after a night of treading the boards at Bristol Old Vic. Price ALC: 2 £9.50-£13.50, 3 £15-£20 Wine list Big range of classic and unusual Italian regional wines. HW approx £12.50 btl Open Mon-Sat 12.30-2.30pm & 6-11pm. Disabled access possible with assistance - no toilets, but normal toilets accessible. Parties of 20+ welcome.

RENATO’S NUMERO UNO
203 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2XT
Tel: 0117 974 4484
● Consistently good Italian food, substantial but not stodgy, and always served with charm. Everything is freshly made on the premises, including pasta sauces, soups, pizza dough and puds. Specials board changes daily and, when the restaurant isn’t too busy, special dishes can be flambeed at your table. Food includes lots of fresh seafood (often including sea bass and Dover sole), excellent pizza, pastas, risottos and carnivorous delights. Save room for some of the authentic puds like tiramisu and pavlova. Price ALC: £3-£5/£7.25-£10/approx £4. SL: pizza/pasta £4.95, 2 £5.95 Wine list Mainly Italian, but reasonably varied, plus Italian btld beers. HW £10 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat), Sun 6-11pm. Disabled access, but no toilet. Student discount 10%. Parties of 20+ welcome. Takeaway 20% discount.

SAN CARLO
44 Corn St, BS1 1HQ
Tel: 0117 922 6586, web: www.sancarlo.co.uk
● Vast range of Italian goodies served in stylised contemporary surroundings with lots of plants, glass, mirrors and professional pizzazz, and considered one of the top 10 Italian restaurants in the UK by The Times. Huge ALC menu and extensive daily specials, all jollied together by native chefs who deliver the genuine article, from pizza and pasta to great fish dishes, seafood and superb steaks. Veggie selection is equally wide-ranging, tempting even the most committed carnivore to dive in, and there’s an impressively wide-ranging wine list, too. Branches in Birmingham, Leicester and Manchester – oh, and Milan and Rome, too. Price ALC: approx £6-£9/pizza & pasta approx £6-£10/mains & specials approx £9-£24.95/approx £4.95 Wine list Specialises in Italian vino. HW approx £16 btl Open Daily 12noon-11pm. Disabled access (with small step into restaurant - help given) & facilities. Private parties by arrangement, up to 70.

SAY PASTA
112 Emersons Way, Emersons Green, BS16 7AS
Tel: 0117 910 4900, web: www.saypasta.co.uk
● Freshly made and thoroughly authentic pasta and pizza courtesy of globe-trotting South African Carl Say. Superb salads, beautiful breads and sumptuous puddings make up the rest of the gloriously fresh menus, while an informal atmosphere makes the whole affair a home-from-home experience. Everything is cooked on the premises, nothing is deep-fried, and you won’t find preservatives, colouring or artificial flavours anywhere – and all excellent value for money, too. New pasta/pizza recipes for this year include the odd-sounding but delicious-tasting marinated chicken, cashew nuts, bananas and yogurt. Price ALC: £2.25-£5.50/approx £6.75-£11.95/£4.25-£4.95 Wine list Knowledgeable European range, btld beers. HW £12.95 btl, £3.75 gls Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 11am-11pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv. Takeaway available.

SERGIO’S
1-3 Frogmore St, BS1 5NA
Tel: 0117 929 1413, web: www.sergios.co.uk
● ‘One of the city‘s most popular Italian restaurants for almost 20 years,’ says the Evening Post - and its popularity sees no signs of dwindling. This traditional Italian restaurant boasts a vast, daily changing menu based around fresh produce and chef’s inspirations. Strong selection of fish dishes, good wine list, and BYO option, too. Informal and friendly, with good reviews in the Food and Drink Guide for several years. Price ALC: approx £3-£6/pasta & pizza approx £6-£9/£9-£12/approx £4-£5. SL: 2 £8.75 (Mon-Fri) Wine list HW approx £11 btl. BYO (corkage £2) Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, Mon-Sat 5.30-11pm. Disabled access. Private room for up to 30, entire restaurant can be booked for up to 80 (set menus for parties of 10+).

STRADA
24 Princess Victoria St, Clifton, BS8 4BT
Tel: 0117 923 7224, web: www.strada.co.uk
● The Bristol branch of this popular upmarket Italian chain has garnered a solid reputation. Sharp and stylish, it excels at dishing up well-priced, high-end Italian trattoria classics. Staff manage to be fast and efficient while remaining friendly, and the whole place buzzes with good vibes and happy chatter. ‘Before you’ve even eaten a mouthful of food, you can understand a large part of Strada’s appeal,’ said our man. ‘It simply feels good to be here.’ Price ALC: £4.50-£6.95/£7.25-£18.95/£3.95-£4.95 Wine list Extensive, from approx £13.95 btl, £3.55 gls. Italian beers Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties - call in adv.

VALENTINO
124 Stoke Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3RJ
Tel: 0117 962 3222, web: www.valentinosrestaurantbristol.co.uk
● One of Bristol’s best-kept secrets, this is a gem of a restaurant, beautifully decorated and very pretty inside, with awesome attention paid to menu details. Presided over by two families with a wealth of restaurant experience between them, this is a traditional Italian eating experience suffused with traditional Italian hospitality. Owner and Chef Antonio, who came to England from the Puglia region of Italy, has more than 40 years’ experience of producing tasty, authentic Italian dishes. Immensely popular, weekends are often booked up three weeks in advance. But it’s worth the wait. The fantastic fresh fish selection is worth a special mention. Price ALC: £4.95-£8.95/pizza & pasta £8.95-£11.95/£13.50-£19.95/£3-£5 Wine list Extensive, thoughtful. HW approx £11 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-10pm. Disabled access & toilet. Parties of 20+ welcome.

VINCENZO’S PIZZA HOUSE
71 Park St, BS1 5PB
Tel: 0117 926 0908, web: www.vincenzos-bristol.co.uk
● Always popular, Vincenzo’s has been an essential stop-off on Park Street for more years than we can recall. Serves a simple, well-prepared menu of Italian favourites – the pizzas are a speciality, obviously, and the calzones are pretty good, too. The upper-deck, open-air eating area is great, especially during hot summer months, and there’s plenty of people watching on offer, with busy Park Street as your stage. Booking advised at weekends. Price ALC: £4/£7.50/£4. SL: 1 £4.50, 3 £7.90. Early eve (5-7.30pm): 3 £13.50 Wine list HW approx £12btl Open Daily 12noon-12midnight. Disabled access. Takeaway available. Parties welcome - call in adv.

ZIO’S
96a Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2QX
Tel: 0117 923 8105
● From the traditional decor to the charming Italian waiters, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the food highly rated by its regular customers, who also appreciate the good value. From your table, you can see the chefs throwing pizza dough around in time-honoured fashion. The ‘alcoholic’ sundae deserves a special mention. Price ALC: approx £2.50-£6/pizza & pasta £7.50-£9/£10-£15/£3-£5 Wine list HW from approx £11 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm. Disabled access. Can seat groups of up to 20.

ZIZZI
Unit SU84B, Glass House, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BX Tel: 0117 929 1066
29-33 Princess Victoria St, Clifton Village, BS8 4BX Tel: 0117 317 9842
7-8 Triangle South, Clifton, BS8 1EY Tel: 0117 929 8700, web: www.zizzi.co.uk
● Smart little Italian restaurant chain with the feel of a family-run restaurant, serving authentic Italian food in a friendly atmosphere. Clifton Village branch has just had a spanking new makeover and is decked out with a traditional pizza oven, sparkling olive vats and plenty of other interesting little details that draw influence from the local area. A bustling open kitchen serves up fresh, tasty fare, while the wood-fired oven means that the calzones are a treat - and the pizzas aren’t far behind. Good-quality ingredients are used in a range of traditional and with-a-twist dishes based on simple, regional Italian cooking, with regular updates to the menu. Expect crowd-pleasing pasta and pizza dishes, lots of interesting antipasti and good salads. Lots of offers - see website for details and to book online. Price ALC: approx £3-£5/pizza & pasta approx £7-£10/approx £10-£15/approx £3-£5 Wine list Almost exclusively Italian. HW £13.25 btl, £4.35 gls Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

Bath

NEW
AIÓ
7 Edgar Buildings, George St, BA1 2EE
Tel: 01225 443900, web: www.aiorestaurant.co.uk
● For a smart but informal space, Aió is about as good as it gets: pavement tables and two softly lit, inviting dining rooms, a fresh fish counter beyond the bar area and a dinky alfresco patio outback. Menus concentrate more on chargrilled protein and interesting carbs (fregola sarda: think couscous with a plumper, softer personality) than prosaic pasta, there’s not a single pizza in sight, and fish/meaty grills go large. ‘All sparklingly fresh and perfectly cooked,’ according to Venue’s own little blast of dolce vita. Price ALC: 3 approx £19 Wine list HW £12.95 btl. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-3pm & 6-10pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

AQUA
86 Walcot St, BA1 5BD
Tel: 01225 471371, web: www.aqua-restaurant.com
● From the outside, the Bath incarnation of Aqua (see Bristol listing) looks like a stone-fronted chapel. But inside it’s more of a cathedral: cool, chic and candlelit, with subtle chandeliers adding to the understated sense of drama. Choose a centre-stage tables or a cosy booth, while chic little private dining rooms are available for parties. Downstairs is perfect for big parties and there’s even a pretty little courtyard out back. But despite the subtle bling, there’s a friendly, fuss-free ethos at the heart of the matter. ‘Little has been lost in translation from the original Italian here,’ said Venue’s version of Sophia Loren. ‘Expect well-sourced produce put together with the minimum of fuss to best advantage.’ Sumptuous antipasti, fabulously fresh fish and succulent steaks on the ALC menu, and bargain-price, dolce vita-themed treats on the popular Aqua Classico selection. Price ALC: £4-£8/£9.95-£18.95/£5.75-£7.50. Set menu (Aqua Classico: Sun-Fri till 8pm, Sat till 6pm): 2 £11.99, 3 £14.50 (Sun £14.99 & £16.50). Sun roast £8.95 Wine list Extensive (with a heavy emphasis on Italian), alongside champagne, cocktails, beers, spirits. HW £14.50 btl Open Restaurant: daily 11am-10pm (10.30pm Fri-Sat). Bar: daily 11am-11pm (12midnight Fri-Sat). Disabled access. Parties welcome - call in adv.

ASK
Broad St, BA1 2EH
Tel: 01225 789997, web: www.askrestaurants.com
● Quieter little sister to Bristol branch. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Available for private hire. Parties of 20+ welcome - book in adv.

BOTTELINO’S
5 Bladud Buildings, BA1 5LS
Tel: 01225 464861, web: www.bottelinos.net
● Family-owned Italian eatery with a jolly reputation for serving huge portions and massive, crispy-based pizzas. ‘A cheerful family affair,’ according to one Venue reviewer. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon-6.30pm. Disabled access. Large bookings accommodated, up to 50.

NEW
ENZO’S
39 Gay St, BA1 2NT
Tel: 01225 427919
● The restaurant formerly known as Fiorelli is now under brand new ownership courtesy of Enzo Piscopo, a Naples-born chef and restaurateur with 17 years’ experience under his belt. The original branch of Enzo may be in Weymouth, but the menus (and vibe) are authentically Neapolitan, from the simple and straightforward (antipasti, risotto, pizza) to sophisticated treats including very good fish dishes, all to be enjoyed in cheerful surroundings against a subtly glamorous backdrop. A family-friendly welcome goes large here. Price £6-£7/£7-£14/approx £5. SL/SD: offers vary – call for details Wine list HW approx £14 btl Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-11.30pm, Sun 12.30-2.30pm & 6-10pm. Disabled access limited – call in adv. Parties welcome – call in adv.

JAMIE’S ITALIAN
10 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ
Tel: 01225 510051, web: www.jamieoliver.com/italian/bath
● The second branch of what’s set to be a national chain, in the heart of Bath’s chic shopping complex Milsom Place. Contrary to expectations, Venue’s starstruck reviewer found that Jamie’s Italian ‘exudes an entirely unforced, uncommercial dolce vita. Prices are as low as Berlusconi’s morals, sourcing is impeccable and the service effortlessly efficient, informative and friendly.’ Expect to endure long queues at peak times, but once seated at a table in any of the four ‘zones’ (including an alfresco terrace with glorious views over the city) that combine to create a lively, buzzing ambience at this vibrant, smartly dressed diner, the wallet-friendly, low-fuss, big-flavour food turns frustration into a distant memory. Menu highlights include the meat/vegetarian antipasti platter to share, crispy polenta chips, ravioli caramelle, organic buffalo burgers, brick-cooked free-range chicken and Gennaro’s Amalfi orange tart. Menus are easily adaptable for children and those with smaller appetites. Price ALC: antipasti £2.85/small pasta dish £5.95, larger main £8.75-£15.95/£3.95-£4.95 Wine list Extensive. HW (Italian, organic, eco-friendly) £19.95 ltr, £14.95 btl, £10.95 500ml carafe, £4.25 gls Open Daily 10am-11pm (Sun 10.30pm). Call ahead for disabled access. Large groups welcome, bookings taken only for groups of 8+.

MARTINI
8-9 George St, BA1 2EH
Tel: 01225 460818, web: www.martinirestaurantbath.com
● Sturdy Italian and Mediterranean specialities served in convivial surroundings buoyed along by an excellent wine selection and welcoming hosts. Beyond the big picture windows lies a collection of atmospheric spaces, each offering an intimacy that belies the fact that Martini is actually a bit of a Tardis. Decor throughout generally adheres to the continental brasserie style that uses dark wood, gold handrails and artfully distressed paintwork to their best advantage. Menus revolve around pasta, pizzas, risotto, fish, vegetarian options and salads, alongside grand ALC specials, resulting in ‘a lovely, lively experience’ for Venue’s own little gnocchi. Price ALC: antipasti £5.50-£8.95/£8.25-£17.95/approx £6. Espresso lunch (Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-6.30pm): 2 £8.50, 3 £9.95 Wine list HW (Italian classics) £11.50 btl Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat 12noon-10.30pm, Sun 12noon-2.30pm & 6-10pm. Call ahead for disabled access. Parties of 20+ welcome - call in adv.

MEZZALUNA
7a Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AB
Tel: 01225 466688, web: www.mezzaluna-bath.co.uk
● Traditional Italian bistro serving traditional Italian cuisine, with a regularly changing specials board supplementing the classics (including excellent pasta and fish dishes). ‘Properly, sturdily Italian,’ said a Venue reviewer. Best ditch the diet before you leave the house, then. Price ALC: £3.25-£5.75/£6.95-approx £14/£3.95-£4.75. SL: 2 £7.95, 3 £9.95. SD: 2 £13.95, 3 £15.95 Wine list HW approx £11.95 btl. Italian beers Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 5.45-10.30pm. Disabled access – call for advice. Parties – call in adv.

PIAZZA RISTORANTE
The Podium, Northgate St, BA1 5AL
Tel: 01225 429299, web: www.caffepiazza.co.uk
● A water feature and lots of greenery plus big window frontage give an alfresco feel to proceedings at this bright, breezy contemporary Italian trattoria on the upper level of a shopping centre, where Italian-themed menus feature lots of pizza, pasta, fish and meat dishes (including a classic antipasti selection and excellent steaks), plus breakfast (English and continental, till 11.30am) and afternoon tea/coffee with pastries, etc, in the afternoon. Particularly welcoming to families (kids get their own menu), and popular with a younger/coupley crowd on weekday evenings and parties at the weekend. Price ALC: approx £3.95-£6.95/approx £7-£14/approx £4.50. SL/SD: wallet-friendly offers vary - visit website for updates Wine list HW £10.55 btl Open Mon-Sun 8.45am-10.30pm (1pm Sun). Good disabled access, with toilet & lifts. Sections of restaurant for private hire, up to 50. Parties of 20+ welcome.

PIZZAEXPRESS
1-3 Barton St, BA1 1HG
Tel: 01225 420119, web: www.pizzaexpress.co.uk
● Bath’s own version of this popular, stylish chain with pavement seating in the summer months. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. Good disabled access. Can cater for parties up to 30.

PIZZA HUT
1-3 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB
Tel: 01225 448586, web: www.pizzahut.co.uk
● Chain restaurant offering sturdy, reliable pizzas and pasta, value-for-money deals and takeaway/delivery service. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm. Disabled access & toilets. Large-print menu. Takeaway available. Parties of 20+ welcome - notify in adv.

REAL ITALIAN PIZZA CO
16 York St, BA1 1NG
Tel: 01225 330121
● Buzzing contemporary pizzeria with a bright and breezy ambience and an open kitchen providing a colourful slice of live kitchen theatre. To the rear, the lack of panoramic cityscape views from the walled terrace is compensated for by its close proximity to the abbey, which looms over a space for some 40+ diners. ‘The wood-fired pizzas are proper Italian beauties: fresh, crisp bases topped with a sauce made of freshly macerated vine tomatoes, with proper mozzarella melting among your toppings of choice,’ said one happy Venue reviewer. The salads are good too, and ice-creams come courtesy of the Real Italian Ice Cream Co (just next door). There’s a more sophisticated experience on a similar theme available at the Real Italian Bar & Kitchen (see Bars, Bath). Price ALC: approx 3 £20pp. Pizza/pasta £6.95. Wine list HW approx £11.50 btl Open Daily 11am-11pm. Wheelchair accessible (but one small step to main entrance). Group bookings - call in adv.

SAY PASTA
41-42 St James Parade, BA1 1UQ
Tel: 01225 333800, web: www.saypasta.com
● Cheerful, upmarket pasta and pizza specialists. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties welcome – call in adv. Takeaway available.

NEW
SOLO PIZZA
2 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ
Tel: 01225 444439, web: www.solo-pizza.co.uk
● Small but perfectly formed contemporary Italian pizzeria at the heart of the chic Milsom Place complex, offering excellent coffee, Italian pastries, etc, at breakfast/tea-time and properly authentic pizzas, fresh salads, etc, as the day rolls on. Gorgeous alfresco area out front is a people watcher’s paradise. Price ALC: antipasti £3.95/salad £4.95/sharing platter £9.95-£12.95/pizza £6.95 Wine list HW approx. £12.50 btl Open Daily 10am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Takeaway available.

STRADA
Beau Nash House, Sawclose, BA1 1EU
Tel: 01225 337753, web: www.strada.co.uk
● Set in rather grand surroundings, the modern-day intimate atmosphere in this contemporary Italian trattoria belies the fact that it’s actually part of a small national franchise group. Price/Wine list See Bristol listing Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm. Disabled access. Parties – call in adv.

VITO’S
12 Argyle St, BA2 4BQ
Tel: 01225 423481, web: www.vitositalianrestaurantinbath.co.uk
● Friendly, traditional, family-run trattoria specialising in authentic tastes from Italy’s Puglia region. Making good use of the cosy subterranean location, the ambience (cosy, cheerful, welcoming) matches the cheerful menus, which include homemade Italian sausages, pumpkin ravioli and excellent steak/fish specials - just make sure you leave room for a proper Italian pud. Price £3-£10.95/approx £9-£18/ £4.95-£5.80 Wine list Predominantly Italian. HW approx £12 btl. Open Wed-Mon 6-10.30pm (last orders). Limited disabled access – call in adv. Parties welcome - notify in adv.

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