Piccola Italia

Ciao!

Having read a reasonable review about Piccola Italia, in the local newspaper, I wanted to taste and see firsthand. My experience was disappointing; the food was terrible and overpriced! The only saving grace was that the restaurant looked authentic and that one member of staff spoke to me in Italian (bearing in mind that they had no prior knowledge of my Italian speaking skills). This   transported me. Also, I found the pizza face on the table outside quite amusing! And it certainly did grab the attention of school children passing by.

Food Diary

Having graduated, I am taking out time to visit places in and around the city. I have been eating out considerably more than I ought to, but this has inspired me publish posts that document where I have munched, dined and whined at.

Time at TAS/ Eating at EV

I had been introduced to TAS by, Sophie, a good friend of mine about 3 years ago. I have always enjoyed Turkish cuisine but these chains of TAS restaurants are exception!  It was good to revisit after such a long time for one does not want to lose that novel, special feeling. I must say that the decor is perfection in that it ‘transports’ you to Turkey. I love how a rug is thrown on a stand by the door giving you that instant ‘welcome home’ feeling; nonetheless the place has an elegant ambience.

Below are pictures of dishes that my friend and I consumed, at EV, on celebrating his 23^rd birthday.

Apéritif

After making yourself comfortable, you are asked if you would like some homemade bread, (which no-one in their right mind would refuse). The bread; soft, spongy in texture with sesame seeds scattered on top, is accompanied by olives and a creamy delicious yogurt dip so delicately enhanced by a flavoursome selection of herbs.

Starters

Sebzeli Köfte (Falafel) :Ground chickpeas and broad beans tossed in spices, deep fried and served with tahini sauce and salad. The Falafel was so crispy and all the ingredients in it were perfectly balanced, the coolness and smoothness of the sauce was delightful. I really liked the use of parsley in the salad.

Mains
Ispanakli Patates: Spinach, baby potatoes, fresh tomatoes and leeks.

 This portion was huge; the plates are massive, which was totally unexpected,  but I am not going to complain as this mean was incredibly delicious and well worth the money!

Overall, a delectable experience: the food was served on time,every dish was mouth watering and enjoyable. You must visit, in fact a few weeks later I took another friend to TAS in Farringdon and he also enjoyed the dishes served there. Unfortunately, I do not have any photographs of that time. Anyway, keep reading for more of my food diaries.

Moussaka