Vittoria on the Bridge

Bustling city-centre venue with a loyal, friendly staff serving Italian classics made from quality ingredients.

The 2019 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

Fresh from its new year makeover, this mainstay of the Vittoria restaurant group has a new spring in its step with light décor and warm staff who are proud to show it off. Starters are imaginative, with a Sicilian oven-baked sandwich of sardines filled with pine nuts in a rich tomato sauce standing out from standard Italian choices. Calamari fritti veers towards bland, although the mayonnaise accompaniment helps jazz things up. It’s little wonder though that tagliatelle alla Vittoria is the house’s best-selling dish: delicately spicy sausage mingles with an expertly freehand balance of mushrooms, onions and minced meat in a creamy pasta dish that is relatively simple, but distinctively effective. Braised beef with truffle mash comes in a chunky portion and not much in the way of greenery, but the tender meat falls apart at a light touch. Pizzas are a popular choice, with eighteen variations ranging from the predictable to the more innovative smoked haddock, which appears with cherry tomatoes and spring onions.