Amalia

This award-winning city centre Italian combines value with authenticity – founders Miguel and Antonio have been working together since 2007 and, inspired by Miguel’s nonna, “a fantastic cook”, it’s their aim to bring home cooking and a welcoming service to the high street.

Food is their first love, and the menu is crammed with classics, from spaghetti carbonara on the pasta list and wild mushrooms from the risottos to Milanese chicken on the secondi piatti and polpette spicy meatballs in both mains and starters. Pizzas are thin and crispy, with crowdpleasers including quattro stagioni four seasons and ham and mushroom, although sticklers might raise an eyebrow at the Hawaiana with its pineapple and the Americana – pepperoni pizza topped with chips. Don’t forget to ask about the pizza of the week, but maybe do forget that Amalia is home of the 5lb Calzone Challenge… Pescatarians might like Nonna Serena’s tagliatelle with garlic king prawns, rocket and pistachio pesto or simple yet satisfying pan-fried cod with fennel puree and fennel salad. Kids are catered for with a menu bambino and a special menu of the day offers a set price lunch from noon until 5pm.

Desserts wouldn’t be dolci without boozy tiramisu, and there are the likes of pannacotta coppa Piedmonte style and Sicilian-inspired cannoli, along with variations on the genuine gelato ice cream theme. Beers and wines are all from the mother land, even down to a red from Sicily and a Sardinian white, and – c’mon – all the Martinis are here too.

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