On Saturday lunchtime, my husband and I FINALLY made it to Pasta Ripiena for lunch (sister restaurant to the wonderful Pasta Loco) and boy was it worth the wait!
Right in the heart of Bristol on St Stephen’s Street, the focus is on fresh, stuffed pasta and it’s something that their brilliant team do to absolute perfection. The decor and atmosphere is much like its sibling on Cotham Hill and the staff are all just as welcoming and lovely. We booked a table for a late lunch but they were still completely full with not an empty seat in sight when we arrived so you definitely need to make sure you book well in advance!
So down to the important stuff…how’s the food? Well gang, it’s pretty spectacular!
I had fried aubergine with whipped goats curd to start followed by a ravioli of soft herbs and mascarpone in brown crab butter, and my husband went for stuffed slow cooked lamb belly with braised white beans and salsa verde before a mezzaluna of black truffle and ricotta with wild mushrooms, tomato and sage. Room for dessert? Tuscan chocolate and rum torte with mascarpone and hazelnuts.
Need I say any more? This was a real treat for the weekend and as if that wasn’t enough they have now opened La Sorella couple of doors down – deli counter, coffee, Italian wines and aperitivo. We didn’t have room for another thing at the weekend but La Sorella is pretty high up on our list of places to go and I’m looking forward to my home made pannetone there already!