Amarone

Tucked away near the Theatre Royal is Amarone, named after the famous Italian wine. We were welcomed by manager Dani Quaglietta, whose love of Italian dining is evident as soon as you step through the door. Housed in the elegant building where Richard Beau Nash once lived, Amarone is reportedly haunted by a previous occupant. The elegant, warm interior is anything but scary – you’ll find a classy collection of mirrors, candlelit tables and portraits, and an undeniably chic atmosphere.

I started with the antipasto vegetariano: a wooden board topped with Westcombe creamy Cheddar and ricotta, mixed roasted vegetables, olives and crusty bread. My partner selected the crispy calamari rings and whitebait with paprika mayonnaise. For mains I chose the homemade gnocchi baked in a rich tomato sauce with fresh basil, mozzarella and sprinkling of Parmesan. My partner listened to Dani’s wise words and chose the cacciucco: a beautifully presented medley of prawns, mussels, white fish and clams in spicy tomato sauce, served with crostini. Choosing desserts was easy. I couldn’t resist the creamy tiramisu, while my partner devoured the Italian cheesecake made with Westcombe ricotta. We rounded things off with rich coffees and chocolates.

As a sophisticated restaurant with authentic Italian dishes and service that’s smoother than the glasses of Amarone wine we enjoyed, Amarone demands return visits.