My colleague and I were going to have a 'working lunch' and per usual, hadn't decided on a place. We were heading to West Street, probably to stop at a deli we have eaten at a few times when she spotted Appetito. I remember that there was a cafe or a restaurant here before, but I didn't realize that Appetito had only opened a week before our lunch. Inside, the decor is simple, but still lovely. It is cozy with not a huge amount of tables, but that might be attractive to those wanting a quite leisurely lunch or espresso.
We were warmly greeted as we walked in. If you have a seat at a table, there are menus, but make sure to have a glance at the board behind the till as there are specials available as well. They have large, beautiful slices of pizza on Focaccia Bread, salads, sandwiches, and some warm dishes like aubergine lasagne. I decided on the Parma Sandwich with rocket, prosciutto, tomato, mozzarella cheese, and pesto, served with a mixed green salad that is lightly dressed with olive oil and vinegar. My colleague decided to have the Nicoise Salad.
As we were sitting there I was looking around and you can see food items from Italy on the shelves, fresh produce and chilled drinks in the chiller, and... lovely little cups of Tiramisu should you wish to indulge! We also saw some of the pizza in the display case near the till and it looked so delicious. Our food came out fairly quickly and it looked wonderful. Fresh, light, but filling. The sandwich was delicious and just the right size and it was nice to have the salad on the side as well. We thought that the Nicoise Salad would have canned tuna like every other place, but this was a fresh piece of Tuna that had been seared and placed on top of the salad. My colleague was delighted!
The waiter/barrista (and perhaps manager?) was very attentive and checked to make sure our food was to our liking. After we finished our food, he brought over a couple of small pieces of their flourless chocolate cake and that's how we learned that they had just opened. They also have takeaway cups for coffee, so pass the chain coffee houses, and head for Appetito! This will probably be my lunch spot when I'm at the main campus for meetings. read more