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.
Café Marina
- Food served: Mon–Sun 8am–6pm
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of main courses), Children's portions, Takeaway, Outdoor tables (smokers welcome)
- Music on stereo: Italian/classics/pop
- Capacity: 21
- Open since: 2002
- Average price 2 courses: £8 (lunch)
- BYOB: no charge corkage
This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.
The Valvona & Crolla dynasty just goes from strength to strength. In this modern diner-style café Marina Crolla offers the best of home-cooked Italian food. Be it panini, risotto or one of the fabulous pastas, you can eat in or takeaway with style. There are usually four or five pastas on offer every day, all beautifully simple yet made outrageously tasty by the quality of the ingredients and the talent of the chef. The penne salsa verde is lightly tangy and packed full of basil, rocket and parsley, while the meltingly tender gnocchi with piccante sugo brings together tomato and basil sauce with fresh chilli and baby mozzarella for a classic example of good Italian eating. Opening hours change with the seasons, so while Café Marina might close at five on a cold and frosty February day, in the summer months it'll often be open until eight or later with diners spilling out to the outdoor seating area and enjoying their BYOB wine free from corkage charge. Café Marina's friendly atmosphere and great service really make it feel as if it is a home away from home, somewhere where you're not just a customer – you're a friend.
- High point: Italian food and hospitality at its best
- Low point: Toilet facilities aren't quite the same standard
Comments
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- 2. Cat, Edinburgh – 26 May 2008, 10:04pm
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Perhaps it was just bad timing. Perhaps Monday is just not the day to visit this Cafe. The welcome was good although you got the impression that the staff didn't want any more business late in the afternoon on a gorgeous, sunny bank holiday Monday, even though there was only 1 person in the whole place. The chairs begun to be packed away as soon as we sat down and my cappuccino arrived quickly (albeit they don't provide soya milk as do most other cafes in town) and was good although the £2.40 price is quite steep. Food was ordered and perhaps at one point in the day had been edible, but heating up in the microwave could do nothing to save this cold, overcooked, bland penne with aubergine. Staff just shrugged their shoulders and said "sorry" when this was highlighted. A light snack for two with one coffee came to just over £18. Not cheap and a return visit would not be recommeded!
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