Colosseum

A stone’s throw from the beach is this lovely Italian restaurant run by the delightful Lizzie and Franco. Experience the taste of Italy in this attractive venue where everything is fresh. Cream, butter and milk are bought from local organic supplier Riverford, and customers are welcome to purchase their products at the restaurant. The menu is also very fl exible; different items can be substituted for the ones listed and Franco is happy to cater for special dietary requirements. 

Seated at a candlelit table, I savoured a glass of falanghina wine from Franco’s home region of Campania to accompany bruschetta made from bread that is homebaked with Italian olive oil, and topped with tomato and garlic. This was followed by homemade tagliatelle with a delicious sauce of mussels, cockles, prawns, cherry tomatoes, garlic and olive oil. My guest had zingara for starters – new potatoes, grilled sweet peppers, garlic, and olives from Franco’s own trees. I then sampled saltimbocca alla romanesca – veal escalope topped with Parma ham in sage and white wine sauce – and it was a wonderful rendition of this tasty classic. 

All desserts are served with organic ice cream or cream. I chose homebaked panna cotta with raspberries, strawberries and Port and cream sauce, while my guest had homemade crème caramel with lashings of caramel sauce. A cappuccino and fi lter coffee formed the perfect ending to our Italian experience.