What a fantastic night, ten of us went here for a friends birthday meal and we were not…read moredisappointed. The food was amazing, the portions were big, the staff were friendly, nothing was too much trouble for them. We all agreed we would be back in the very near future! Thank you for an excellent night!

Really delicious Italian food. Service very friendly and helpful. Beware the really filling…read morechestnut chocolate mousse! Best local ice cream too.

I went here with a large group the other night, and the staff were gracious about letting us add…read moretwo extra people to our booking, even though it meant moving nearly every table in the place. The food was very nice, particularly the seafood dishes. However, we were all a little confused when the lights went out halfway through our meal. A fuse had apparently blown, but the waiters said it happened all the time, and left us to eat the rest of our meal by the light of a single candle. I like a bit of atmosphere as much as the next person, but I do like to be able to at least see my plate, if not exactly what's on it. Bottom line, however, is that this is good food at reasonable prices and I would definitely go back.

I had avoided Bistro Italiano like the plague because of the mass of bad Italian in Durham. I…read morefigured it was just like the rest of them. Had the opportunity to go the other night with a large party and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. I ordered gnocchi which can sometimes not go too well. They did it perfectly, really very good. Everyone else seemed very happy with their meals and it all looked very good and at a reasonable price for the quality. Service was a bit spotty, but it was a very large group so its understandable. Will return!

The name conjures images of simple delicious rustic Italian food served at affordable prices. The…read morereality does not really uphold this image but is not terrible either! We visited during the Xmas to New Year respite looking for something tasty and filling on a cold day. The lunch menu had all the usual pastas and pizzas offered with starter for £7.99 ($10). We chose the tomato soup and mushrooms in garlic. My soup was pretty disappointing, thin and bitter tasting but mushrooms were good. I chose a bolognese sauce for pasta, while others in party had pasta arrabiata, pepperoni pizza and chicken Kiev. Unfortunately the pasta sauces were not good, my Bolognese looked great but had little taste. The Arrabiata lacked depth of flavor also other than being doused in chili powder and in both cases the pasta was over-cooked and did not taste freshly made. However chicken was good and the chunky chips were the best part. Pizza was bare and devoid of toppings but dough was good. Decor is a little quirky and looks like an attempt to hang an Italian farmhouse skin on a British pub skeleton. However, the reason I give it 3 stars is that it's the type of cost effective, kid friendly place that serves a need, just not mine!

From the owner: A moderno twist on authentic Italian Cuisine. Traditionally…read moreItalian in origin, with a new generation contemporary feel at the former Clarence Villa pub. Just like mama used to make, but in the 21st century. Enjoy the aroma and taste of Italy with authentic pastas, pizzas and main dishes providing you with an unrivalled dining experience at the Italian Farmhouse Coxhoe. At the Italian Farmhouse Coxhoe we're not just about authentic Italian cuisine. We are also home to a traditional pub with it's own bar food menu, real ale selection, live music and pub quiz. A less formal alternative for a drink and bite to eat!

good food nice staff, exelent lunch and early bird specialsread more

Absolutely delicious food, and the service is incredible!!! The atmosphere and ambiance is amazing,…read morewould definitely recommend.

You know when you've been sightseeing and touring all day and you're really down for dinner and all…read morethe places you had bookmarked to eat at didn't impress your friends so you end up walking up and down the streets and find a restaurant that you all love? That was La Spaghettata :) The four of us went for dinner and were seated right away with menus. We all decided on pastas (Pasta cooked with vodka, fettuccine with flakes of smoked salmon, and gnocchi with peas) and one of us got baked salmon (which also came with pasta....carb party!). A calamari appetizer was ordered and although I didn't have any, it heard it was nice and light despite being fried. A number of waiters kept coming to our section and looking at us and we couldn't really figure out why until one of us asked us if we were ready for our main course (who would've thought! I thought it was cute). The food then came right away. For the prices paid for the pastas (7.50 pounds which is around 14 dollars), the portions were very very good; i was stuffed and couldn't finish mine! Also they're very generous with their own.....ask them for a glass of red wine and you'll get a full glass.....a bit odd lol. Also, all pastas and pizzas come with a salad but we didn't know until we finished out food (there's a self serve salad bar on the other side of the restaurant) This is probably a personal opinion, but there is nothing I love more than going to a restaurant that radiates with culture. Minus the mainstream music, the decorations and Italian waiters and cooks really did it for me. Everyone was so sweet and kind. Come and eat, you won't be disappointed. **Just for all my fellow carbaholics out there.........they have spaghetti pizza. YUP, you read that correctly. Pizza with spaghetti on top. Carbs galore!**

Quite a small, well hidden gem near the cathedral. Service was great with very attentive waiting…read morestaff. Food was very authentic, the bruchetta was humongous (not a bad thing) although you could have split it between 2. The pate was excellent, and for mains the chicken and mushroom crepes were beautiful, with the seafood stew having an amazing depth of taste. The only downfall (if you class it as one) is that the restaurant itself could do with a lick of paint and updating slightly. Would definitely go back.

The views are what set this restaurant apart from any other Bella Italia. We were lucky enough to…read morebe seated by the window which directly overlooks the river, it's an absolutely beautiful view. I had the 'special' pizza duck with hoi sin sauce and spring onions which was very good. I usually can't finish a whole pizza, but this one went down very easily! Only tiny fault was the slow service.

Renovations to top entrance means that you must use alternative entrance is down the alley (or…read morechare, lol) running next to the restaurant. The door isn't labelled well, but I'm a trailblazing type and wasn't hampered. The outdoor seating, which is really close to the river and bridge and was where I really wanted to sit, is closed at this time of year. It was a gorgeous day; however, they gave a good reason, May flies. The waitress I had was polite, and she was quick to bring me a drink, served with a lemon. I ordered garlic grossini(?) and a lasagna. To really test an Italiano Ristorante, you should always order the lasagna--if their lasagna is no good, chances are the rest won't be that good either. Kudos to the wait staff... though I ordered a Coca Cola, the couple sitting near me ordered red wine. The waitress asked them if they'd like to taste the wine before they bought the bottle... classy and consumer oriented. Kudos, Bella Italia, kudos. So, the dishes came really fast. It was almost too fast, but since I was in a party of 1, that was fine. They were excellent--by far the best Italian food that I've had in the United Kingdom. The lasagna was at probably 6 layers: two noodle layers, two sauce layers, a creamy ricotta/soft cheese layer, and a mozzarella layer dressed with fresh herbs. It was really good lasagna, and the portion was large. The garlic bread was surprisingly similar to traditional American style breadsticks... topped with a garlic pesto that was quite amazing. The dishes were quite salty, but I don't mind. The price tag was a little high, but it was a fancy eat-in joint in a premiere location. Not bad after all.

Now known as MALANZANA-new name completely different experience!…read moreOn Sat.5th.Dec. we visited this establishment for the 3rd. time(don`t know why) It was our g/daughters birthday-it was lunchtime and not busy. The waitress threw the menus at us,the meals were the poorest pasta meals we have ever had!Parmason was banged down by this horrible waitress who we have met before and is so up her self. Yes we should have complained at the time but did not want to spoil occasion for g/daughter. This is a never to be repeated visit-three strikes and OUT!!!

One word sums up my experience is this restaraunt…read more Horrendous. From walking in and being greeted by the waiting staff arguing with each other to walking out feeling let down, the whole experience was bad. The food, when it eventually arrived, was disgusting. I ordered spaghetti, which up to this point I thought was a foolproof meal to cook, however I was proved wrong here. It was dry with very little sauce, cold and congealed and generally very unappealing. I tried one mouthful and honestly had trouble swallowing it. the spaghetti itself was undercooked and congealed and the sauce was very bland. The service was poor and when the waitress was told about the problem, she was uninterested in the problem. I will never eat here again, and recommend that you don't either!