The décor in Aquila is in no way “Italian” on first sight. You wouldn’t walk in and guess you’re in an Italian restaurant. It’s very glitzy and glam and glass. It was very nice, don’t get me wrong, but not authentic.
We were given a complimentary starter of tomato and mozzarella, which was beautifully presented and tasted refreshing yet flavoursome and was definitely a nice way to begin our meal.
We were given a complimentary starter of tomato and mozzarella, which was beautifully presented and tasted refreshing yet flavoursome and was definitely a nice way to begin our meal.
One of my first impressions of the service was how attentive the waiters and waitresses we had were (yes we had several rather than one consistent). They were very quick to top up our tap water whenever it so much as nearly ran out, and were quick to clear our plates.
We didn’t feel the need to order additional starters and began perusing the mains menu. The prices seemed very decent for such a fancy place. I opted for a pizza (Nikita - £11.95 – below right ) since I had wanted something hearty, and my aunt and mum who I was with both went for pasta – Carbonara (below left) small portion (£8.95), and the Spaghetti Al Arrabbiata (V) (below centre) small portion (£7.95).
We didn’t feel the need to order additional starters and began perusing the mains menu. The prices seemed very decent for such a fancy place. I opted for a pizza (Nikita - £11.95 – below right ) since I had wanted something hearty, and my aunt and mum who I was with both went for pasta – Carbonara (below left) small portion (£8.95), and the Spaghetti Al Arrabbiata (V) (below centre) small portion (£7.95).
When it says small, it means small. The portion size they presented my mum and aunt with looked like they only consisted of about four forkfuls, and at one point I said that they’d probably be waiting a while for me to finish once they’d shovelled their pasta down because my pizza was well worth the money.
However, I was wrong. My aunt and mum both absolutely loved their main courses, thoroughly enjoyed the flavour and said had there been any more food in the bowl they wouldn’t have been able to finish it. My appetite is considerably more sizable than theirs so I question whether or not I’d have agreed. My pizza was deliciously cooked, with the option to have it made more crispy, which I declined. The combination of meats on the Nikkita – chicken, salami and Parma ham – were a beautiful team for the tastebuds, and I managed to just about finish the entire pizza.
I was happy to decline a dessert but I was easily persuaded to share one with my mum and aunt. We had the Cannoloni, which was unlike anything I’d tried before, and again displayed beautifully in the bowl. The citrus sauce as the menu states perfectly complimented the sweet ricotta, which I don’t think I’d ever tried before. A really pleasant dessert, but not one I could have eaten to myself, and my appetite for dessert is pretty good.
However, I was wrong. My aunt and mum both absolutely loved their main courses, thoroughly enjoyed the flavour and said had there been any more food in the bowl they wouldn’t have been able to finish it. My appetite is considerably more sizable than theirs so I question whether or not I’d have agreed. My pizza was deliciously cooked, with the option to have it made more crispy, which I declined. The combination of meats on the Nikkita – chicken, salami and Parma ham – were a beautiful team for the tastebuds, and I managed to just about finish the entire pizza.
I was happy to decline a dessert but I was easily persuaded to share one with my mum and aunt. We had the Cannoloni, which was unlike anything I’d tried before, and again displayed beautifully in the bowl. The citrus sauce as the menu states perfectly complimented the sweet ricotta, which I don’t think I’d ever tried before. A really pleasant dessert, but not one I could have eaten to myself, and my appetite for dessert is pretty good.
All in all Aquila isn’t especially expensive, but neither is it cheap. You pay for excellent service and beautiful dishes – both in terms of flavour and presentation – and it was a lovely evening out for all three of us.