Valvona & Crolla VinCaffè

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £20 (set lunch)
   £20.50 (evening meal)
• House wine: £15 per bottle

• Hitlisted
• High point: First-rate food and wine without formality
• Low point: Queues for weekend lunchtime tables
• Food served: Mon-Wed noon-3.15pm, 5-9.30pm; Thu-Sat noon-3.15pm, 5-10.30pm; Sun noon-3.15pm. [Deli & coffee bar open Mon-Wed 8am-11pm; Thu-Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 11am-6pm].
• Private dining: 8/20
• Open since: 2004
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), 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.

Sleek styling in dark wood, sea blue tiles and crisp white linen, along with its location on designer-heavy Multrees Walk, belies the fact that VinCaffè is all about food rather than fashion. A short, unpretentious menu focuses on the vibrant Italian produce that Valvona & Crolla devotees adore, and informed, low-key service allows diners to enjoy it at their leisure. The V & C antipasto is a delectable spread of Italian cured meats, milky mozzarella di bufala, juicy roasted vegetables and fresh bread, generous enough for a hungry shopper's lunch or a shared starter. This simple sophistication also characterises the piatto principale, where the combination of pork escalope, prosciutto and sage, pan-fried and served with seasonal greens, is sublime, while the wafer-thin pizzas, smothered in garlicky sugo, are a distinctly grown-up treat. Fabulous desserts on offer include incredibly chocolatey Milanese ice-cream and a sumptuous Amalfi lemon tart. An exceptional wine list also boasts 48 wines available by the glass, which helps to make sampling something special a little more affordable. But beware, the downstairs bar and deli also stocks a selection of wines, so be careful what you get a taste for.