City Road, Cardiff. 07703 429185 / www.i-giardini.com
Food: **** Atmosphere: ***
Taking inspiration from the flavours of the Sorrento peninsula, just a hop, skip and a jump from Pompeii, I Giardini di Sorrento is an independent Italian restaurant located just at the bottom of City Road, and since its opening in A Shot In The Dark’s former location, it’s made quite a splash on the city’s culinary scene and is repeatedly noted as one of the best restaurants in the city. My curiosity piqued, I thought I’d take a look. Upon walking into the restaurant, you hear Italian being spoken and are treated to the sights and smells of the kitchen – just one of the cultural transportations that makes City Road such an exciting place. We’re soon taken upstairs to a more secluded area and seen to quickly.
Struggling to narrow down the starters, I opt for antipasto sorrentino, a platter of Parma ham, salami, pancetta, mozzarella, olives, vegetables, and bread, to share with my dining partner. As ever with antipasti, not a lot can go wrong and it was a good (and rather hefty) entrée to the evening’s meal. Choosing the main was a little trickier, and there’s a huge selection of pasta, risotto, and pizza to choose from, not to mention the chef’s specials. I finally settle on a pizza contadina, featuring Italian sausage and broccoli as toppings on a homemade base following a traditional family recipe. The well-spiced pizza hits the spot and is surprisingly large, with broccoli being an unexpected hit as a pizza topping. My partner went for a pizza forte (mozzarella, tomato sauce, chilli, and spicy Italian sausage), and was as well received as the contadina.
To finish, I go for a simple espresso and a tiramisu tradizionale, which was without a doubt the highlight of the meal – soft, creamy, rich, and perfectly made… not to mention extremely generous. I also sample the tarta di formaggio (a homemade cheesecake), which was just as generous and a perfect concoction of marscapone, Philadelphia, and ricotta cheeses. With big servings and good, simple food, little can go wrong with a meal at I Giardini di Sorrento, and its reputation as one of the best Italian restaurants in Cardiff is well deserved.
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT