CityLife

Roma

Roma
Sale
February 2010

(Casual dining review)

Overall: 4/5

The welcome was as warm as the Mediterranean and the waitress could not have been more helpful.

Roma is a relatively new Italian restaurant on the main A56 in Sale. The owners have a great reputation from similar businesses in Manchester and they have successfully imported high quality food and service to this venture.

Manchester City manager Roberto  Mancini seems to spend his time away from Eastlands visiting his homeland’s eateries and he could do worse than  spending a couple of hours at Roma. 

The food on offer was the  straightforward, high quality cuisine we have come to expect from Italian restaurants in the north west and includes Mancini’s favourite dish, vitello Milanese.

I started with costolette di maiale, ribs in a barbeque sauce (£5.45) and my companion, Sheila, went for  le schiacciatine, spicy fishcakes with a mint and cucumber salsa  (£5.65). 

The ribs were succulent and the meat fell off the bone to the touch.

The fishcakes were elegantly spiced and complemented well by the cool sauce. While I love pizzas, I tend to go for something a little more adventurous when eating out so I compromised with a calzone – a folded pizza which is more satisfying and filling than the flat variety. 

At home, Italians often fill their calzones with left over meat and vegetables and they have been described as the Latin equivalent to the Cornish pasty. My choice this time was a hot and spicy calzone with meatballs, salami, chilli, onions and chicken, topped with Bolognese sauce.

Absolutely delicious and there was so much of it, even I could not get through it all. An amazing main course for £7.95.

Sheila loves seafood and could not resist the spaghetti di gamberoni, another bargain at £7.65, which consisted of spaghetti served with king prawns, chilli and garlic in a tomato sauce. 

That is a classic, simple recipe but Roma’s secret is getting  the sauce to pasta ratio just right to make it juicy without being sloppy. The dining area is on the first floor so if you have trouble with stairs, it is worth checking the access before turning up.

Once you do get there you will not be disappointed with the food which is excellent value for money.

There are special deals most days and lunchtime specials start at under £5. I have paid a great deal more for far less in some swanky Manchester restaurants.

Roma Italian Restaurant, 123, Cross St, Sale M33 7JN (0161 962 3363).

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