Simpatico

With E being a super Italian food buff, I never thought we'd manage to find an Italian restaurant we could actually eat in, let alone return to on a regular basis. Only a quick stroll down to the Peak galleria, and we're at Simpatico, a relatively new Italian and dangerously close enough to entice us to throw caution to the wind and indulge in pasta and red wine booze on a rainy Tuesday....

Eating in a shopping mall never feels quite right (especially one as ugly as the Galleria), but once you step inside, you almost forget where you are as the huge sliding windows open out on to an airy terrace overlooking the south side and plenty of greenery.

The menu is not too big, with a good selection of dishes but not overwhelmingly so. And, from what we have sampled so far - it all has hit the spot. The carpaccio always makes for a great starter after you've wolfed down the warm bread selection. The pizzas were thin and crispy with a flour-dusty crust that you know has been freshly thrown and topped with good quality tomatoes and mozzarella. The pasta is just the right texture with a correct amount of sauce (we've had the pesto, bolognaise, broad bean and Parma ham and gnocchi - like I said, it’s just down the road..). I've yet to sample the carne part of the menu - the spring chicken always sounds tempting, but the lure of good pasta is just too strong.

As for the puddings – I’d skip them (the cheese plate would have left a wee mouse feeling peckish) and head over to Gino’s Gelato for an ice cream and a look at the view.