Strada, Low Petergate
Rating: 
Ave. food price: £9.00
Ave. drink price: £4.00
The opening of a new Italian restaurant in town usually involves my spending an extortionate amount of money sampling the delicacies they have to offer, frittering away my precious student loan on food with names I can’t even pronounce. However, the opening of Strada was a completely different experience. For two hours on a cold Tuesday, this Italian eatery gave free samples of their food to anyone who cared to venture into the imposing red building on Petergate.
I kept my expectations low, anticipating a few spoonfuls of some pasta coated in an overly garlic sauce, but I was over the moon to find a more extensive and extremely satisfying sample of their wide-ranging menu.
The tasty schiacciatella, homemade bread coated with basil pesto and tomato, starts off your meal as it means to continue. For fans of seafood, the risotto all’aragosta e gameroni is not to be missed. Lobster and tiger prawns with garlic, chilli, white wine, thyme, Italian tomatoes and broad beans make a fantastic combination.
For secondi, the bistecca di manzo (rib-eye steak with rocket and parmesan) is delicious. At £13.50, it’s one of the pricier options on the menu but well worth the cash if you are willing to splurge. For a choice slightly more appealing to the average student tastebuds and bank balance, the pizza section offers a wide variety of this classic Italian dish.
The thin bases to the pizzas make a change from the last pizza I ate, which was in a post-Ziggys frenzy in Fat Boys. In terms of desserts, one thing needs to be said here and one thing only: make sure you leave room. The small sample of tiramisu I tried left me wanting more and left me wondering how amazing the fondente al cacao (warm melting chocolate pudding) would be.
I left Strada feeling overly full, knowing that I would return, although next time my purse may be leaving slightly lighter than it did on this occasion.
