Sasso, George Street

01635 297446

sassos.co.uk


THERE is no doubt about the high quality of service at this family-run Italian restaurant.

From the moment my partner and I arrived for an evening meal, our hosts Domingo and his wife Sally offered informative menu advice and cracked numerous jokes.

They showed us first to a small table with a bar, where we enjoyed a drink and had a chance to look at the menu and specials. Then, when we had made our choice, we were taken to the restaurant’s larger dining area.

This service was nothing less than we had expected, as we made our booking after recommendations about the restaurant from friends.

But we found such pleasantry comes at a high price – £94.50 to be exact, excluding tip, for two three-course meals.

That is not to say the food wasn’t good.

I started with three asparagus spears wrapped in Parma ham and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This was perfectly pleasant, although a little bland and my slightly blunt knife slipped on the plate getting through the asparagus.

The main course, however, was a real belter. I had Agnello ventura – tender lamb cutlets with a selection of wild mushrooms and slices of chorizo – which warmed me up on a rather wet summer’s evening.

My partner had the show-stopping sirloin steak, which was cooked at our table on a hot stone that, Domingo informed us, had been sitting in the kitchen Aga for 90 minutes.

I chose the cheese board to finish, which had a selection of five cheeses which included a velvet-smooth goats cheese and harder variety which was flecked, not unpleasantly, with red chilli.

Our satisfaction with the food and service was diminished by the wallet-busting bill, which included a £3.20 charge for half a litre of still mineral water and £6.40 for vegetables for which we did not order.

The total cost of our main meals came to £39.90 and our bar bill – for two small glasses of red wine and beer – was £15.50.

Afterwards, we asked ourselves if we would return to Sasso. We felt nearly £100 was too high a price to put on our otherwise, enjoyable evening.