Il Tricolore

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £15.50 (lunch)
   £15.50 (evening meal)
• House wine: £13.85 (1 litre carafe) per bottle

• High point: The warm, family welcome
• Low point: A little cramped at busy times
• Food served: Tue-Thu & Sun noon-2pm, 5.30-11pm; Fri/Sat noon-2pm, 5.30-11.30pm. Closed Mon
• Open since: 2005
• Also offers: Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access, Take away

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

This review is from the 2007 edition.

Just a two-minute walk from Haymarket station, this relative newcomer to Dalry Road draws in a jovial mix of tourists, shoppers and locals with its large menu and relaxed atmosphere. Long, comfortably padded benches line two of the walls, allowing plenty of diners to squeeze into the small restaurant, which in turn leaves room for the energetic waiters to buzz between tables, but this can also make things a bit cosy at busy times. Entirely family-run, Il Tricolore takes pleasure in making other families welcome, offering half price children's portions, along with free ice-cream and a goody bag to help keep them amused. However, there is also plenty to keep adults happy, not least the reasonably-priced litre carafe of house wine. The menu sticks to traditional Italian favourites, and the hearty pasta dishes, such as penne tricolore, with spicy sausage, peppers and mushrooms in a tomato sauce, are fresh-flavoured and surprisingly moreish. Delicious thin-based pizzas and a good selection of meat and fish dishes are always available, along with daily specials from the blackboard. The popular dessert menu is not adventurous, but when you've got perky profiteroles smothered in chocolate mousse, what more do you need?