I rarely venture to the shopping mecca / hell that is the Trafford Centre. On the rare occasions I…read moredo however, I always try to stop by at this branch of Vom Fass. Located in Selfridges, it's almost twice as big as the city centre concession and the staff are more generous with the samples. As well as the all gorgeous flavoured vodkas, rums and grappas I've already raved about they stock about a dozen olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Produced by artisan growers in different European countries, they are stored in wooden barrels and taste sensational. The fact you can get them in a variety of different size and shape glass bottles makes them an ideal present for the chef or home-cook in your life.

Deli Fonseca is one of the few places that makes me wish I was loaded…read more A fab independent deli in Liverpool's business district, it's packed floor to ceiling with all kinds of mouthwatering goodies. The gigantic counter displays a myriad of delicious cheeses, hams, olives, pates, anti-pasti and salads whilst the nearby baskets display fresh sticks and loaves of bread. To top it off, they have dozens of wooden shelves groaning with all kinds of lovely store cupboard treats from organic granola, cereals and cookies to oat cakes, chutneys, olive oils, vinegars, sauces and spices. Now, where did I put that darn lottery ticket?

This review is for the upstairs restaurant area - and sadly it is not a good one. One Saturday…read morelunchtime, I popped in for a light lunch. Nothing complicated - in the end, I ordered a Greek salad and a plate of Serrano ham rather than the pricier mains on the blackboards. I'm not sure how two really basic things could be so disappointing. I think it's because on the surface, this looks like a place that prides itself on sourcing and attention to detail. On the specials during my visit were such items as hand foraged local samphire, Cumbrian lamb and Pink's award winning sausages. So why was the Greek salad about 50% raw onion? Why did it feature those mealy crunchy supermarket basics tomatoes, cold from the fridge? Even the black olives mentioned on the menu were green. And they clearly did have black olives in the kitchen, because my four slices of Serrano ham (almost £6) came topped with a single olive. They boasted it was "20 month aged" - most of it had clearly been in their fridge, as it featured a faint tang of refrigerator and managed to be unpleasantly rubbery. Not sure how Serrano ham can even go rubbery but there you go. If you've boasting of excellent ingredients then it's unacceptable for the basics to fail so badly. I wouldn't bother returning.

well worth a visit but this place is only open through the day, Breda and the staff are so friendly…read moreand the service is really good, the only problem is that it does get busy and sometimes you have to wait for a table, she sells really nice little gifty bits as well like olive oil. there is a little car park but be careful when you pull out as traffic does come very quickly on that road I went to a birthday party in the summer and Breda had done the catering, it was brilliant. It was in a marqee and for a large number of people but you could not fault the food or the service. she also does buffets for house parties, I went somewhere last year and she had done the food, it was all homemade and very tasty.

Excellent food at really reasonable prices compared to Mitchelin Star places. This bistro is open…read moredaily but only up until 6ish, it is a day place. The owner does do outside catering which seems to be a large part ofthe business. The cakes are to die for and the food is all really high quality. The owner has won many awards and I can see why. It is only a small place so arrive early to get a nice table.

Customer service was fantastic. We didn't have to wait long at all and the staff were very…read morefriendly. The pizza was the best I've had, and the salad was delicious too.

Best pizza I've had in a long time. Go out for food at least once a week and will be making this a…read moreregular visit. Staff were absolutely amazing. We'd definitely go back.

Salvi's Mozzarella Bar is an independent, family run Italian in Manchester. It is located in the…read moreCorn Exchange and can be accessed through the entrance with steps outside, or by being escorted through the basement by security if you require a lift, which is the case for the majority of the restaurants in the Corn Exchange which have a basement other than Pizza Express. Manchester as a city, one of the main and major cities of the UK is dominated by chain Italian restaurants who have multiple branches to each of their names, so Salvi's is a refreshing change and although the pricing is slightly higher as you'd expect from an independent (they have two branches in the city) with a lack of offers you'd normally receive from the major chains, one could say it is justified due to higher quality food and service than the average Bella, Carluccio's and Prezzo etc. They do have some gluten-free options such as the risotto which I opted for, priced at £14.95 this is perhaps slightly above average but based on the quality and portion size it is justified, however, I do feel a smaller portion perhaps at a lower price would have been a good idea, or perhaps with a side dish such as some form of potatoes, as these were proper Italian sized portions which alongside the traditional Italian decor, reminded me of being back in Rome. (Large A5 menus too!) I ordered the Risotto Ai Funghi, it was seasoned perfectly with a mixture of the parts of the mushroom which made it taste fresh, with good, juicy pieces of the vegetable throughout the dish, added with the saffron it was quite enjoyable. The rice could have been slightly softer similar to other risottos I've had such as at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, in Manchester but all in all the taste, freshness and seasoning was all very good. The staff throughout did seem quite nice, there was slight confusion at first in taking my food order but this was sorted quickly, I also liked that despite being a naturally gluten-free dish they wrote gluten-free on my receipt and when sending my order to the kitchen which of course let them know so they'd cook it separately etc. It would have been cool to see a gluten-free menu or a member of staff talk to me about more gluten-free options (being able to order pizza and/or pasta would have been fantastic), but they still did a good job. I also liked how attentive the staff were in ensuring I was never out of the water, the water was presented in a premium jug which I also liked, it felt as posh as tap water could get. The spirits and booze are also priced well here if you fancy a drink at around £6 for a double mixer. Moving back on to the overall feel - a slightly dark and cool vibe, similar to what one would expect at a proper Italian restauraunt reminding me of being back in Rome also made this a much nicer place to be in than the typical chain Italians which dominate the city. Other than the food quality, I also found the takeout containers to be good quality, with the portion being so big I had to take home just under half of my risotto, it took a few minutes to come back from the kitchen but it was once again presented beautifully in a Tupperware dish and brown paper bag, this is compared to messy, dodgy cardboard boxes and bowls I'm usually given so this was a nice gesture again. I would have liked to see risotto on the menu with meat hower, with the only two I noticed being a saffron and mushroom or seafood risotto, but that isn't meant to take away from the good quality risotto I did have and enjoy on my visit. Also adding more gluten-free options such as pizzas and pasta and talking gluten-free guests through them would also be nice. The main issue I had during my meal was an issue with the grated parmesan which I normally have with my Italian food eating out, I was told it contained gluten which confused me as it is cheese which is naturally gluten-free so I'm not sure if they add something to it to give it flavour, but if they do it certainly doesn't need it and the fact they're adding gluten to cheese really makes no sense, but then again this could have been a rare mistake from the staff member. One of the few good quality Italian in Manchester city centre, not without its flaws such as those previously mentioned and the restauraunt feeling a tight squeeze (despite being large, they seemed to sit all tables next to each other - I understand why they'd do this to improve service and cleanliness but even a gap of one table between customers would have been so much more relaxing and comforting), but overall this is a great, yet not perfect place but the quality of food and service definitely deserves a four-star rating, this once again goes to show how good this place is like the lowest it has ever been rated on Yelp is numerous four-star ratings.

I very much enjoyed the sight of distressed overheated Italians joyously realising that this place…read moreis about as close to being in the piazza back home as they are going to get in Manchester. Aperol Spritz is the best in town and the food looked and smelled amazing, especially the garlic prawns. Am excited to come back to eat. Only thing is they need to get some outdoor furniture - people sitting on the high chairs from the bar in side that were lowered to a uncomfortable level weren't as relaxed as they should have been in what otherwise is a delightful slice of la dolce vita overlooking one of the smartest, if not exactly picturesque, areas of the city centre.

One of the best meals I've had in England. This fantastic Italian restaurant could hold its own in…read moredowntown Chicago! We had the artistan bread with olive oil & delicious balsamic vinaigrette. Shared the burrata with arugula and tomatoes. The lentil soup was unbelievable! Order this! I had the lobster ravioli in a white wine cream sauce and my boyfriend had the Italian fennel sausage pasta. Both were unbelievable!!! Come here! Order everything you can. And that's all I have to say about that! Jackée

Place was a lovely surprise in the suburbs of Childwall . Food and menu choices high quality and…read morestaff friendly and professional . I now live in America but originally from Liverpool so a nice quiet alternative to going into the city . Will be back

I've gone past this restaurant multiple times but had never tried it…read more The restaurant is now opened for indoor and outdoor dining. They were only allowing 1hr-1.5hr time slots and were very adamant about it, so if you're looking for a place to chill, this isn't the place for the moment. The inside was super cozy and welcoming. Definitely Italian vibes. The service was quick, we order right away and our food came at a very reasonable time. They were attentive and checked up on us a few times. Food received compliments from all of us, but from what I had, the bruschetta was my favorite. I'm sad they had run out of tiramisu, guess I have to return to try it. A sign that it's surely good if they ran out, right? I will definitely return and a place to must try if you're a fan of Italian.

Amazing service. Amazing food. Great price. Chill overall vibe to the place. Easy Italian food…read morechoice for tourists.

Sugo has basically universal acclaim on here and tripadvisor so I feel a bit nervous not to give an…read moreentirely glowing review but this is based on my experience on the night and I wouldn't warn people off, refuse to go again etc, I'm just personally not chomping at the bit to go back. Basically, the main issue was the food with starters way too salty for my tastes which is weird because salty food doesn't normally/ever bother me and actually I eat a unhealthy amount of salt on a daily basis. This was the case with all three starters (we shared). Main course was better although for my tastes al dente went way too far into just undercooked and detracted from the sauce. I thought the choice of dishes was great though - really interesting combinations of both meat and seafood. It's good to see a creative Italian menu when often it's just the classics which of course are all delightful but ultimately a bit repetitive if you eat Italian food a lot. The red wine was absolutely brilliant - Baglio Gibellina U Passimiento (can't remember vintage, maybe 2014). I will definitely seek it out again. Service was generally good although they didn't handle the 1h30 kickout very well - we had finished our mains sometime beforehand but weren't asked if we wanted dessert or anything, which upset those of us who missed out on our desired salted caramel peanut butter ice cream. It's also anathema to Italian dining culture to have a turnaround time like that, I understand their space constrictions but it's jarring. I'd advise you make sure you arrive on time, don't chat before ordering and follow up proactively if you want dessert.

Altrincham's newest southern Italian inspired restaurant, opened by two chaps who met whilst…read moreworking at Honest Crust in nearby Market House. They stick to a seasonal menu here, sourcing ingredients either directly from the Puglia region of Italy or from local producers such as Manchester Veg People. Even the earthernware crockery is imported. Everything is homemade and the pasta is served as it should be: al dente. The restaurant is small (30 covers) so you can imagine it's very popular. They now have an online booking system and allocate tables for an hour and a half per booking. It's cantina-style seating, so you may end up sharing a table with other diners. The open kitchen enables you to see the chefs in action and smell all the delicious herbs they're adding. It's not like any Italian restaurant I've been in before - they play whatever music they like so we had Manchester's own Morrissey and Oasis to listen to whilst we ate. The frequently changing menu is small (which helps with the decision-making) and I could have ordered any of the dishes. Opting for clams to start and then slow-cooked venison pasta, it became one of the most satisfying meals I've had in a while - so flavoursome and delicious. They serve soughdough from Trove bakery which was superb at soaking up the sauces. The wine and beers, from Reserve and Blackjack respectively, change regularly according to the seasons, and their sorbet and ice creams are supplied by Ginger's Comfort Emporium. Though Market House is a massive draw for foodies everywhere, Sugo is definitely a destination in its own right and I'll keep coming back here.

This is such a lovely wine bar. When it comes to wine I don't pretend to know my stuff, I just…read moreopenly admit 'I know nothing about wine!' I do like wine, and it always has to be red, preferably a fruity one, but that's as far as it goes for me.. Names of wines? Nope. Flavours of wines? Nada. So I asked the bartender for a middle of the road, fruity, red. He recommended the Le Selezioni Cutaja, Nero d'Avola (confused face) and he looked like he knew his stuff, so with total faith in him that's what I went for. It was lovely. The bar itself is small but looks cosy. It wasn't particularly busy for a Tuesday evening but there was still a very pleasant atmosphere as I met some other Yelpers for pre-dinner drinks. As time goes on I can imagine this is the type of place I would like to sit for a few hours, order a meat and cheese board and try some different wines. This may have to involve building up my tolerance a little though, as usually 2 large glasses of red and I'm sloshed.

OH APERITIVI YOU SAY…read more Following my year in Bologna when I belatedly discovered Italian aperitivi culture (i.e. eating tiny free pieces of food along with your prosecco, negroni etc) I always get verrrry excited when I see it in the UK. Veeno apparently has a whole buffet on Wednesday, which I am excited to try. Meanwhile what we got was great - cheese and ham with excellent red wine (I got the "classic" which I really enjoyed). Will definitely be back here for drinks, it's a great stop off before, for example, Red's or Splendid Kitchen.

L'Olivetto sits on an unassuming street in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. In passing you might think it…read morewas a coffee shop or the sort, but it turns out to be a real culinary jewel, and one of those rare ones... an independent Italian restaurant that does Italian food properly, and well. As you walk in, it strikes you that the space is larger than it looks from outside, with slate floors and tables in similar tones with simple wooden furniture, but the restaurant is dominated on one side by the giant ornate wooden bar, which takes the centre stage. The rest of the restaurant is decorated in shades of olive (a natural choice, with "L'Olivetto" translating to "The Olive Grove"), but is rather minimalist, meaning that it can feel a little stark. I think if the tables had simple white tablecloths, or if there were some curtains or plants, it would make the venue feel a bit more cosy, and would absorb the echo a little bit. Not to say that it's not pleasantly decorated, with some fab quirky decorating features! The bar also had some great little additions that you might not think about. There is a glass containing reading glasses, for those who inevitably forget to bring theirs and have to squint at the menu, as well as two variations of a loyalty card, one for the daytime crowd, promising free coffee and cake, and the other for the evening crowd, offering a free bottle of house wine. A nice touch! The menu is split into several options, including a lighter meals section, set meals, and general a la carte. The tables also have promotions on them, mentioning how each night there is some variation of a special offer, such as 20% off on tuesdays, and a half price bottle of prosecco with your meal on "Fizzy Fridays". The prices generally are very good too, considering everything is made fresh to order. We chose to start with Funghi Impanali, breaded mushrooms which gave a good crunch before giving in to some incredibly tasty and juicy mushrooms that had been sauteed in garlic butter. When somewhere can take something as simple as breaded garlic mushrooms and make it truly tasty and impressive, that's a good sign! For our mains, I chose the Pollo Saltimbocca from the light lunch menu, which comprised of chicken fillets wrapped in parma ham sautéed with olive oil, garlic and sage. I accompanied this with a couple of side dishes of Patate Saltate, which is potatoes sauteed with onions, garlic and parsley but which visually was a bowl of absolutely mouth watering looking little roast potatoes! They were crunch and delicious and very moreish! I could eat a whole bowl of them for a snack! I also had the spinach tossed with onion, garlic and parmesan, My main and sides were delicious, and I was really impressed with both the taste and the price. Phil R opted for the classic Spaghetti Carbonara; spagetti with diced pancetta in a rich cream sauce with parmesan, he was also given the option to add additional chicken to the dish, which he did gladly. For his side, he chose to try the zucchini fries, which came with a garlic aioli for dipping, and which were unsual but pretty tasty! We'd seen them appearing a lot in trendy restaurants, so it seemed a perfect opportunity to give them a try (try them, seriously!). Phil R was completely taken aback by the quality and flavours of his pasta, and was singing its praises and making happy noises throughout. We've been to Rome and Pisa and eaten *actual* Italian food, and he didn't sound as impressed then as he did by this meal! Well done, L'Olivetto! We were given dessert menus, but had already been sneakily noseying at the cake chiller cabinet in the corner of the restaurant, and had made up our minds already! I chose to go for the cherry crumble, served cold, with cream, and Phil R chose to go for the triple chocolate gateaux. We were both smitten with our choices, which were delicious and great quality. We were told they were from an actual nearby Italian bakery, keeping the Italian flavours going throughout. Some of the desserts were prepared freshly in house too... we'll try them next time! The service was friendly and professional, the food was absolutely superb and of a great quality and value, and the venue was bright, modern, and spotlessly clean. It was also nice at the end of my meal to see that they had a selection of teas available, so I had an Earl Grey to round it all off. Perfect. If you're near Liverpool, go along and give them a try, they're really worth it. We decided that we'd be happy enough to drive over there from Bolton if we fancied a nice meal and experience, because that's one thing they really delivered. Bravissimo, L'Olivetto!