My boyfriend and I have been going to this Italian restaurant for months. Whenever we are in the city centre and feel like going for lunch, this is my default setting. We had a few hours to kill before the England game last night so we decided to grab a bite to eat at what is easily my favourite restaurant in the city at the moment.
At approximately 18.30 the restaurant had one other couple dining, with the owner serving tables as he does when it's busy. We ordered the vegetarian pizza and the chicken milanese, with the speciality breads. The breads are homemade, soft and spongey. I'm not normally a big fan of focaccia bread but the pieces on this platter are topped with whole green olives and tomato and so soft that when dipped in the provided olive oil even I find them irresistible. My vegetarian pizza was salty and topped with courgette, artichoke and black olives. The base was thin and very well cooked to say that we were served within 10 minutes of ordering. Slightly soft underneath in the middle but that's how I like my fresh pizzas. Including the breads, my meal was so light (despite being topped with plenty of cheese) that I ate every bite without feeling over full. I have never tried chicken milanese before and to be honest anything that is battered and fried isn't something I would order. James decided this was the dish for him last night and I'm very pleased he did. The butterflied chicken escalopes were crispy and freshly cooked. Despite being fried, the chicken was incredibly moist and the batter light and very crispy. Served with a salad and large diced potatoes again the dish was substantial without being heavy.
But James has the kind of sweet tooth that means he cannot resist a dessert. The desserts are on display behind a glass case at the bar which means one can browse the sumptuous display to choose what they want. The owner explained what each dessert was and recommended the homemade treats. I've made James crackers for tiramisu (see previous post) but unfortunately they didn't have any today so he ordered the homemade cheesecake. I'm a massive sucker for cheesecake and when it was brought to the table and the owner asked if I wanted a spoon I couldn't say no! The base was very crumbly and the filling light and airy. It was a set cheesecake and anyone who knows me knows I personally prefer the baked kind. There wasn't a big base-to-filling ratio and as James had the whole thing smothered in Belgian chocolate sauce I wasn't able to taste the vanilla filling very well. If chocolate is your thing however the sauce was thick and so rich that it was almost cloying. Perfect for my chocolate monster boyfriend!
There is a deal which we usually go for, which is any pizza, pasta or pancake for five pounds (this laptop is all American and I can't find the pound sign). I have tried several of the pizzas and pastas and I am never disappointed. The tagliatelle bolognaise and carbonara are dishes I would particularly recommend. The pastas are well cooked with rich homemade sauces which are seasoned to perfection. Whilst many pasta dishes in restaurants can be oily, this is not the case at all at Caffe Piazza. The pasta dishes are simple and delicious.
The service is always fast and friendly. The decor is rustic and whilst the tables and chairs are somewhat more shabby chic, the atmosphere is comfortable and accommodating. I've never felt rushed despite how fast the table turnover is. I would give Caffe Piazza a 9/10. The restaurant is due to open for longer hours soon but at the moment closing times are earlier then one would think. However I've been reliably informed that the owners also run La Luna, an Italian restaurant on Banner Cross. I have not tried it yet but I intend to very soon!
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