La Fiorentina

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• Average price 2 courses:
   £9.95 (set lunch)
   £19.50 (set dinner) (evening meal)
• House wine: £14.50 per bottle

• High point: Superb garlic mayonnaise
• Low point: Subsequent breath
• Food served: Mon-Sat noon-2.15pm, 5.30-10.30pm. Closed Sun
• Private dining: 50/35
• Open since: 1989
• Also offers: Childrens portions, Wheelchair access, Take away, Pre-theatre menu

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

This Southside institution won a people's choice award for top restaurant in both 2004 and 2005. And why not? An elaborate setting is combined with quality cooking to create an appealing option. The traditional dining room has some beautiful stained glass and is scattered with life-size marble statues, while vines hang from the ceiling. With a choice of business lunch, pre-theatre and gourmet menus, there's essentially something for every palate and budget. Mushrooms, stuffed with cheese and ham, rolled in breadcrumbs and fried, are moist and tasty. Dapper waiters supply the accompanying and delicious garlic mayonnaise from large serving dishes. Main courses of fish and meat hit all the right comfort-food buttons: for example, Italian steak pie or pork stroganoff. Thick sausages - so spicy that there's a warning on the menu - are served in a fresh tomato sauce with gnocchi and a slice of roasted polenta to absorb some of the heat. A monster pudding (known as the 'special Italian dessert') has sponge soaked in Marsala wine and maple syrup, covered in meringue and whipped cream.