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Restaurant Review: Ciao Bella, Dock Street, Brewery Wharf
We didn’t go looking for Ciao Bella, it found us.
We were looking for another restaurant just around the corner but when that turned out to be closed (as in ‘for good’), and as we sauntered back to the car, Ciao Bella came to our rescue.
And thank the Lord it did.
What a delightful place, so much more endearing for the fact it is somewhat off the beaten track, enrobed in the rustic charm of one of the old brick buildings which form part of the enigma that is Brewery Wharf.
It was after 9pm when we arrived at Ciao Bella but we were immediately put at our ease by the maitre’d, a most polite and accommodating woman who showed us to our table and took our coats and straight away gave us the impression that nothing was going to be too much trouble.
The place itself wasn’t exactly heaving but then again, it was late on a Wednesday evening when we visited – still, there were enough diners to create a comfortable atmosphere.
The restaurant itself has a relaxed, laid-back feel, with tall airy ceilings and open-plan dining area with a bar just off centre, surrounded on two sides by high arched windows making for an uncluttered space, perfect for enjoying a hassle-free meal out.
It’s the kind of place you can well imagine visiting on a lunchtime as well and, by all accounts, they do a brisk trade during the day with a special menu offering a meal and soft drink from £5.95.
Service was faultless from beginning to end – staff were polite, discreet and yet observant enough to know when to attend our table – one had only to glance over to draw their attention.
We ordered our drinks – two Veltins, a crisp German beer with a lingering hoppy aftertaste, which proved rather more-ish – and then our starters.
My partner ordered Gamberoni allo Zenzero – large king prawns with fresh ginger, chilli and garlic (a meaty £8.25), which came piping hot and were well presented in their shells.
I ordered Caprino con Pere – goat’s cheese with pear marinated in red wine (£5.50), which proved to be really rather tasty, the sweet, acidity of the pear a perfect accompaniment to the soft, warm cheese – it was real melt in the mouth stuff and it just left us wanting more.
For her main course, my partner ordered Calzone Kiev – folded pizza with mozzarella cheese, ham, chicken, garlic butter and served with tomato sauce (a bargain at £8.50), which was a real hit, the pizza itself being jam-packed with ingredients, all cooked to perfection and yet not being compromised by the sauce, which was served on the dish, as opposed to inside the pizza.
Succulent
I ordered Stincotto d’Agnello – succulent shank of lamb, gently oven cooked and served with roast garlic and savoury cabbage in a red wine reduction with mashed potato (£14.50), which was, quite simply, sublime. The meat practically fell off the bone, the cabbage in red wine was a real treat and the whole dish was just good, honest, wholesome fun.
We also ordered a portion of homemade chips (£2.50), a tomato, onion and basil salad (£2.95) and Piselli Alla Romana, peas with bacon and red onion (£2.50), which proved excellent and were good enough to eat on their own.
After our mains we were almost full to bursting but somehow managed to find space for a final assault on the menu.
For desserts we ordered dark and white chocolate mouse (£4.50), which did what it said on the tin, so to speak and sweet of the day, which turned out to be warm chocolate fudge cake with ice cream (£4.50), which again hit the spot.
We didn’t touch the wine menu on this occasion but they do have a good range, from the Castelbello Dry White, from £3.25 per glass to £12.50 a bottle, to Dom Perignon Brut Champagne at £110 a bottle.
Altogether, with two filter coffees (£1.60 each) the bill came to £67.25, very reasonable considering the quality of food and service.
Perhaps one slight observation was that the king prawns my partner had for her starter, while being wonderfully presented and in a lip-smacking sauce, were themselves a touch on the bland side and at £8.25 were almost as expensive as her main.
Ciao Bella benefits from being on the edge of the quandary that is Brewery Wharf in that, while it is technically part of that grand and yet to be completed experiment, it is within spitting distance of the old, established, tried-and-tested part of Leeds, being a stone’s throw from the Adelphi pub.
Charm
Clothed in the characterful old world charm which seems to emanate from lovingly converted mills, it remains far enough off the beaten track to make those who patronise it feel as though they have really found a diamond in the rough.
In essence, that is what Ciao Bella is – it has everything going for it: excellent food, service to die for, a location as enticing as its menu.
Clearly, there is a talented chef working behind the scenes in the kitchen, knocking out mouth-watering, wholesome dishes.
If you are every stuck for somewhere to dine or want to surprise a loved one by taking them somewhere special, Ciao Bella is everything you could ask for and more.
FACTFILE
Ciao Bella, 20 Dock Street, Leeds
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday noon-10.30pm, Friday and Saturday noon-11pm.
Tel. 01132 469444
Website: www.ciaobellarestaurantleeds.co.uk
Email: E:ciaobellarestaurant@mail.com
STAR RATING
FOOD.......................... ****
VALUE........................... ***
ATMOSPHERE.......... ****
SERVICE ................... ****
***** EXCELLENT **** VERY GOOD *** GOOD ** AVERAGE * POOR
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