Sponsored by
Italian Farmhouse
South Street, West Rainton, tel. 5841022.
A QUIET, intimate meal on a Wednesday night I thought, so off we went to the Italian Farmhouse in West Rainton.
The car park was packed and so was the former pub, tastefully renovated into this eatery, with families enjoying the early bird menu.
However, as the evening progressed and the candles were lit, this charming restaurant did indeed become intimate and cosy.
The restaurant is owned by Mark Hird, managing director of Tavistock Leisure, and his wife Nicola.
The couple have transformed the old Greyhound pub. One half is still a very traditional local, but step into the other half and you're in Tuscany.
The dining area is split in two. There's a smaller area inside then more tables in a tastefully-decorated conservatory, where the window ledges are packed with empty Italian wine bottles.
The menu is extensive, offering all that is expected of an Italian – garlic breads, anti pasti, pizza, pasta and succulent main courses. And not forgetting desserts and a huge selection of unusual ice creams.
We began with con pomodoro – a garlic pizza bread with tomato and pesto while making our choice for dinner. I started with an oven-baked goats' cheese tart which was delicious, while my wife had homemade chicken liver pate – beautifully smooth with ciabatta bread.
I struggled to make a choice for main course between braised beef and ham hock, the waiter recommended the ham (if I was hungry) and it duly arrived with homemade thick cut chips.
The portion was huge and I only just managed to do it justice. There was plenty of meat and a good spread of crackling on top.
My wife opted for spaghetti with miniature meatballs and her request for only a little garlic was easily met as all the dishes are freshly cooked.
I managed to squeeze in the Italian bread and butter pudding for dessert sampling the vanilla pod ice-cream. We finished with caffe lattes.
Would we go back – definitely, the staff were helpful and the food divine.
We ate before the end of happy hour – 6.45pm – so the bill came to less than 40 for two meals and soft drinks, but the main menu was very reasonably priced.
ROB LAWSON
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Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
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