Outside, it was so cold brass monkeys were looking worried and smokers didn’t know when to stop exhaling.
“I haven’t experienced such a drop in temperature since I told your mother we were an item,” I chattered to the Moll.
I half expected to see a polar bear saunter up Buchanan Street making a beeline for the Cowcaddens ice shelf. It was time for some serious winter warming.
We sought shelter and a heat in Amalfi, a compact and bijou little Italian a side-step from the Christmas shopping hordes on Sauchiehall Street.
I’d swung by this place a few times but never felt compelled to enter. But today, the freezing temperatures made anywhere with central heating an inviting prospect.
Once through the doors, we politely declined a table at the front entrance and headed for the cosy warmth of the back of the restaurant. Breakfast was a fast-fading memory and I was ravenous.
The menu was an inviting prospect and I wanted to gorge on everything Pizza? Sounds good. Pasta? Sounds even better. Fried escalope of veal? Can I really resist? Eventually I settled for a simple starter of potato skins stuffed with ham and mozzarella, while The Moll opted for the bruschetta.While we waited, we took in the typical Italian restaurant decor -pictures of Rome, Lucca and Reservoir Dogs. Quentin Tarantino is a bit of a tenuous connection, perhaps they ran out of Goodfellas posters?
When the first course arrived, the Moll’s eyes grew as wide as a bella luna. The portion of bruschetta would have fed an entire African village for a year and |
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despite stealing a slice for myself, she still had to leave a hearty chunk of the delicious tomato and mozzarella covered bread.
My potato skins were equally mouth-watering and came with a sweet chilli dipping sauce -the perfect accompaniment
For my main I finally settled on one of the house specialities: penne alia Sicilianna -pasta with Tuscan sausage, chilli, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.
While the spicy sausage left a delicious lingering taste, it was overpowered slightly by the amount of chilli. Still, it was a thoroughly decent dish and I’m glad I ordered some crusty Italian bread to mop up with.
The Moll meanwhile quietly tucked into penne alia matriciana -pasta with tomatoes, bacon, garlic and white wine.
“It’s a little strong on the tomato,” she frowned. “I can hardly taste any bacon or wine.” That said, it still received her painted thumbs up.
The dessert menu was a constant presence on the table, tempting us with photographs that were almost pornographIc.
Mounds of chocolate cake dripping in sauce and Ice-cream furnished with fresh fruit.
But we remained strong and very full -so settled on a couple of coffees to add extra insulation from the outside world.
Amalfi is a cracking little hidden gem of a place, the perfect respite from Christmas shopping.
We’ll definitely be back. |
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: Exceptionally friendly service. WHAT TO AVOID: A bit too much chilli in the pasta.
STARTERS Bruschetta £4.50 Filled potato skins £3.95 MAINS Pasta all matriciana £6.80 Penne alia Sicilliana £7.95
SIDES Bread 95p DRINKS 2x coffee £3.30, 2x mineral water £2.40 TOTAL £29.85
EVENING TIMES, THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER 2007
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