Looking for somewhere to eat out for an evening meal but uninspired by the food offerings available on Church Road in Redfield we decided to jump on a bus away from town, thinking Kingswood might be a better place to fill our bellies.
But the first bus that turned up was the 44, which doesn’t stop at Kingswood, so we decided to take a risk and walk the unfamiliar path of Hanham High Street instead. It was not yet 5pm and the only place already open for a sit down meal was the local Wetherspoons.
Although The Italian Kitchen was not officially open until 5pm we were let in early and able to take advantage of their deal which allowed us to order any pasta or pizza for £10. I was pleased to see a vegetable lasagne on the menu so decided to order it, though I was tempted by the pizzas available.
Despite the place being empty when we arrived, it soon filled out with locals who seemed to know the staff. Even though we were strangers to the place, we were made to feel welcome from the beginning and were pleasantly surprised by how quickly our food arrived.
The lasagne was great and although it would have been enough without a dessert, I had enough room for some ice-cream. The three scoops of mango, strawberry and vanilla went down very easily.
Taking advantage of the £10 deal, between the two of us, the bill came to just over £30 for two soft drinks, pizza, lasagne and a dessert. Other than the friendly atmosphere and reasonable prices, there are plenty of reasons why I would return to The Italian Kitchen.
The family-friendly restaurant serves children’s meals and roasts on Sundays. There are plenty of starters to choose from, and in their off-peak deal you can get a starter and a main for £14.
We noticed that early Friday a group had arranged a table for a surprise birthday party. It’s not surprising that people would book the place for a celebration given the range of drinks available, which includes more than 10 cocktails.
The Italian Kitchen really has something for everyone. With numerous offers to suit different taste buds, a bottomless brunch that has been described as one of the best in Bristol- it’s difficult to see what they could do to improve the place.
By the time we left the place was almost full, but the owner still found time to see us out, ask us about our meal and invite us to come back again. And we certainly will.
The Italian Kitchen is located on 47 High St, Hanham, BS15 3DQ. Their full menu can be viewed on their website here.