Blackpool: Bella Italia

6:39pm Friday 29th February 2008

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Bella Italia is situated in Victoria Street, in the heart of Blackpool's shopping area, opposite the Winter Gardens.

A chain restaurant, the interior decor attempts to evoke a continental feel with pictures of scooters, Ferrari racing cars and chianti bottles.

On a Friday lunchtime, there was a pleasant buzz around the restaurant, with a mixture of those enjoying a leisurely meal and refugees from the January sales.

There is an extensive menu of pizza and pasta dishes, with daily specials and more expensive meat and fish items.

However, we chose from the menu espresso, which offers one course for £5.95, or two for £7.95. The menu is limited to four dishes per course, but there is still variety, with options for non-meat eaters.

A starter pollo all' olio, which arrived still bubbling from the oven, was strips of chicken, covered in a herby cream sauce, with a toasted bruschetta slice to mop up the excess sauce.

A dish of mushrooms with dolcellate cheese, again with a dash of the white sauce, was a good combination of flavours, however the four mushrooms were on the small side.

Main courses were soon on the table, pizza formaggio was a huge portion, with the aforementioned dolcellate combining well with salty goat's cheese on a thin and crispy base. Beef and pork meatballs with penne in a tomato and onion sauce was also a generous and tasty dish.

A disappointment was a side order of garlic and cheese ciabatta, which we felt did not provide good value at £3.50 for three small slices.

There is a linited wine list which offers an exclusively Italian choice and the authenticity continues with bottled Nastro Azzurro beer on sale.

Service was extremely professional and attentive, for what was an enjoyable lunch.

How did it fare? (put of six stars): Food 4 Drink 4 Service 5 Atmosphere 5 Value 4