From the same stable as Vittoria, La Favorita and Divino Enoteca, Taste of Italy is a diner style Italian offering a good range of Italian classics at a very reasonable price. The same menu is served all day, with main course pasta dishes at around £6.50 looking particularly good value in the evening.
Interior
On today’s visit, I was joined by regular questing contributor, Jane. Jane works in an office near to mine, but has somewhat less flexible lunchtime arrangements, meaning that we’re usually looking for a place that’s going to serve us quickly to get things turned around within an hour. Taste of Italy’s diner style radiated promise that they’d be able to meet this challenge.
Melanzane alla parmegiana
From a broad array of options, I opted to start with my great favourite of Melanzane alla Parmegiana (it’s such a favourite that Word magically capitalises it, every time I type it!), followed by tortellini stuffed with beef. Jane opted for zola e funghi (blue cheese and wild mushrooms on garlic toast) followed by gnocchi with bacon and leeks.
Dishes arrived very promptly and looked rather good. The melanzane didn’t photograph terribly well, but was a nice tower of aubergine topped with mozzarella and surrounded by a nice, thick tomato sauce. It was one of the better versions of the dish that I’ve been served (vastly better than the disastrous example I was served in their sister restaurant Divino Enoteca), so I was a very pleased chap.
Mushrooms on garlic toast
Many courses arrived swiftly, also. Both were generous in their portion size and tempting in their aspect. The pasta of my tortellini was beautifully soft, and each mouthful was packed with flavour. Jane described her gnocchi as “absolute comfort in a bowl”.
The prompt, accurate and friendly service meant that we were two courses down with plenty of time on the clock for coffees at a nice relaxed pace. The coffees were really pretty good, too.
Tortellini
So overall, Taste of Italy serves high quality dishes, quickly and efficiently, at a very reasonable cost. It keeps things simple, focuses on flavour, and has a bunch of happy customers, as a result. It’s a great spot for a quick, high-value bite, so I’d happily recommend that you pay it a visit, soon.
Gnocchi
Scores
Jane scores Taste of Italy:
4.5/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
5/5 for service
3/5 for setting
giving an overall 16/20
Blythe scores Taste of Italy:
4/5 for food
3.5/5 for presentation
4/5 for service
3.5/5 for setting
giving an overall 15/20
Today’s questers were: Jane, Blythe
We ate: zola e funghi, Melanzane alla Parmegiana, tortellini romagna, gnocchi gusto
We drank: sparkly water, espresso
We wore: blazer with smart white piping, lemon shirt
Total bill: c.£30
Post script: the wonderful Jemma from Jemma Eat World has just awarded Taste of Italy a rather special new award:
