Beating the January blues: What we thought of The Scullery in Silksworth

In such a quiet month for restaurants we didn’t think to book ahead for The Scullery, but managed to get one of the only remaining tables at this Italian in Silksworth.

I hadn’t visited since it first opened in Warwick Terrace and it’s had some additions over the years, including outdoor seating and a stylish cocktail bar which has a log cabin vibe with its exposed wood, striking hanging lights feature and wood burner.

Through to the restaurant, which is a bistro by day and an Italian restaurant by night, it has a contemporary, laid-back feel with its red and green tones and, again, great feature lighting.

With a mixture of families, couples and birthday parties in, the place had a warm atmosphere and the staff seemed well versed at juggling multiple covers with friendly, swift service.

Looking at the menu, it’s no wonder it’s popular with families as there’s something on there for most palates with no less than 10 chicken options alone, as well as a well-priced kids menu at three courses for £5.95.

I chose a classic to start: the tricolore salad at £4.90. It’s a simple starter I’ve had at umpteen restaurants in the city, but this portion size was larger than most with a whole avocado and plenty of mozzarella and tomato with the salad.

I chose from the extensive pasta section for mains which are more than reasonably priced, starting at £5.95 and that’s not even a happy hour price.

I had the priciest one, the seafood pasta, which was still cheap at £9.90 for a seafood dish. It arrived well presented with oodles of fresh fettuccini that had just the right amount of bite, punctuated with plenty of plump king prawns and mussels and decorated with edible flowers and a homemade tortilla crisp.

It comes in a light tomato, garlic and white wine sauce. I’d asked for it without garlic, which wasn’t a problem as everything is made to order, and the chefs still managed to create a delicate, yet flavoursome sauce despite it missing an ingredient.

The kitchen will also rustle up gluten-free versions of dishes for those with an intolerance.

Considering we had a fair bit of wine, our bill for two was really reasonable at £80. But if you’re looking to shave off even more pounds in that long run up to January pay day an early bird offer runs Monday to Saturday from 3.30pm to 6.30pm where you can pick up two courses for £8.50 or three for £11.50.

If you’re driving to The Scullery it has the added bonus of plenty of on site parking, unlike its city centre counterparts. It’s also worth looking out for its music and themed nights including a Burns Night at the end of the month.