Vittoria's is the perfect restaurant to sample a real taste of Italy. Renowned for its high level of service and fresh Italian food, book online with Vittoria's on Leith Walk and experience over 40 years of history. You can now also book online at Vittoria's on the bridge and at La Favorita too.
Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar
Leith Walk
- Food served: Mon–Thu 8.30am–5.30pm; Fri/Sat 8am–6pm; Sun 10.30am–3.30pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 13
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Takeaway
- Music on stereo: Italian classics
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 10
- Open since: 1996
- Average price 2 courses: £20 (lunch)
- House wine: £12.99 per bottle
The new edition of the List's Eating & Drinking Guide is available in the shops and online with fully updated reviews of over 800 restaurants, cafés and bars.
This review is taken from the current (2010) edition.
A consistently popular café at the back of an inspirational food shop, Valvona & Crolla delivers something close to a genuine Italian experience, serving high quality ingredients in simple arrangements to a regularly returning clientele. The seating area can get crowded at busy lunchtimes, and queues are not unknown. Verdure Alla Piastra (griddled vegetables) comprises sweet and slightly smoky courgettes, juicy tomatoes and outstanding, delicately soft mozzarella; pizzas are crisp and covered with light, fresh toppings and the desserts range from dense and rich 66% chocolate torte to subtle and melting panacotta. Some of the dishes, Italian sausages with olive oil mash, for example, suffer a little from their simplicity – the ingredients are still of the finest quality, though the preparation lacks the same sparkle – but overall the menu and accompanying wine list offer a touch of understated class. The service is hurried, but not annoyingly so, and the vibrancy of the café offers Italian authenticity while you’re stopping off for a quick espresso and a panini.
- High point: High quality authentic ingredients
- Low point: At the pricier end of rustic Italian
Take Three: Delis-cum-Cafés
19 Jun 2008
Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar, Grassroots Café and Herbie of Edinburgh.
Comments for Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar (19 Elm Row, Edinburgh)
- 1. For the real Italian experience.. – 25 August 2008, 3:14pmReport
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I was very disappointed by my visit to Valvona & Crolla after what I had heard and read about the place. Being Italian I was looking forward to it so the opportunity arose when I visited the Edinburgh festival. I have to admit that it is very difficult to find a proper Italian deli in the UK. I am used to buy my wines and a few more products online but no more than that so this time I made sure I had plenty of space in the car, I was hoping to come back with plenty of Italian food and wine, the one I drink and eat when visiting my family, and set off to my Italian discovery shopping experience. All my hopes disappeared when I entered the Valvona & Crolla shop, when I started reading the label and found that the product on sale were all average Italian supermarkets products with a very dear price, and not the one I would buy. The Valvona & Crolla branded products were made by big Italian companies and the only few good wines they had, but nothing more than the ones available from supermarkets, had an excessive high price. As this was not enough, we decided to stay for a coffee, it was 4pm and when reading the menu we found the “affogato” and ordered it. Again, another big disappointment.. The affogato we received and we paid £3.95 was not more than a ball of vanilla lost in a poor espresso… Luckily, for us Italians looking for something to remind us about our country, there are other places that I would recommend to try. Examples are the Tavasso delicatessen in Newcastle where I used to live and Italyabroad.com a website specialised in Italian food and wine by small producers.
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