The Italian Way at Valentinos

Jonny Austin • Published 27 Apr 2012 09:30 0 Comments

On arrival at Valentino's Italian in Reading town centre, there were few spaces outside for parking but plenty available at Gerrard Street car park. However, once the parking issues were dealt with the evening took an altogether more relaxing turn at the restaurant, as we were guided downstairs to our candlelit table.

Our first impressions of the restaurant were great; fresh, warm and welcoming. There are pieces of art on the wall by a local artist, and in the corner there was a man playing live saxophone, as he does every Friday to entertain diners. I jumped at the chance to try the antipasti starter, featuring 'the finest Italian cold cuts of meat with roasted Mediterranean vegetables in olive oil', priced at £9.95, which my companion and I shared. What a great way to start a meal: the Italian way. The dish set us up perfectly for our mains.

We went for tagliatelle with salmon, prawns and rocket, for £13.95 and the meat feast pizza, with ham, salami, sausage, mushrooms, onions, tomato, mozzarella for £13.95.

The tagliatelle was lovely and rich and went well with the Nostori Rose wine. The pizza was huge but was perfectly cooked with crispy edges and juicy meat.

With hardly any room for dessert, we asked the waiting staff for their suggestions. They gave us a limoncello liquor which helped clear the palette and settle our full bellies!

The staff were polite and very attentive but unobtrusive.

All in all, we had an enjoyable, romantic evening with good food and service

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 27 Apr 12

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