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–Sat 8am–6pm; Sun 10.30am–4.30pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 13
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Takeaway
- Music on stereo: Italian Classics
- Capacity: 80
- Largest group: 80
- Open since: 1996
- Average price 2 courses: £20 (lunch)
- House wine: £11 per bottle
- BYOB: £6; wine must be purchased in the shop corkage
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
The Valvona & Crolla imprimatur remains definitive of all things excellent in food and wine, with a renown that draws visitors from far beyond the Edinburgh foodie scene. Behind the narrow shop front at the top of Elm Row, the deli's towering shelves offer all manner of epicurean treats, and the enticing aromas of Italian coffee, garlic sausage and cheeses in prime condition are all around. Beyond the deli counter and the array of fresh herbs and vegetables, the wine shop's wall of gold awards hints at the quality to be expected in the café. A glass of a well-chosen house wine, Garganega 2006, is a fitting accompaniment to the signature Valvona & Crolla antipasto platter. Linguini with succulent mussels and Parmesan shavings, followed by a dolce of home-made vanilla custard tart with fresh berries, makes for a memorable caffè lunch. Earlier in the day, a brunch of Italian omelette, parmigiano and parsley served in a panetella (toasted panini) with free-range griddled back bacon, should keep the wolf from the door. And for those in the fast lane, a pick from the panetteria's selection of loaves, pastries and takeaway deli goodies would make for the ultimate picnic.
- High point: The gold standard for authenticity and freshness…
- Low point: …but might just cost your weight in gold
Take Three: Delis-cum-Cafés
19 Jun 2008
Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar, Grassroots Café and Herbie of Edinburgh.
Comments
- 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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