Firenze Italian Restaurant, Jesmond, Newcastle
Nov 13 2009 by Katharine Capocci, The Journal
OUR sporty kids are always ravenous by Sunday lunchtime after racking up several hours at swim club over the weekend.
Being poolside at 7am on a Sunday is never easy, believe you me, especially for us jaded parents with car-share arrangements.
But the early start and exercise combo does mean we’re always up for a hearty family Sunday lunch, and the lure of eating out can be a very big motivator.
So it was we ventured out for lunch at Firenze, the newest Italian kid on the block in Jesmond, which opened in the late summer.
Firenze – the unanglicised name of the city of Florence – has taken over the premises where Metzzo restaurant was formerly housed, at the quieter end of Osborne Road, just off Holly Avenue West.
It’s an upmarket Italian restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and a relaxed, almost bistro-like feel to it.
It even has its own private courtyard, perfect for alfresco summer drinks. It’s most definitely a case of “perish the thought” at the moment, but sunnier days will return.
A giant canvas of Florence’s Ponte Vecchio adorns the wall in the entrance to Firenze, and up a flight of stairs is the split-level restaurant.
It’s cosy inside with simple décor, black and white prints of scooters and chefs, and wooden blinds and beams.
The menu looked varied and interesting, better than your average Italian eaterie – extensive a la carte, chalked blackboard specials, all the usual pizza and pasta fare, as well as Sunday roasts on offer.
And staff could not have been more smiley and chatty. Owners Jim Smith and Gavin Ayres are the chaps behind the business, having previously worked down the road at Scalini’s in Jesmond.
With glasses of crisp and refreshing Mannara Grillo pinot grigio to hand, the rigours of the pool run were fading as we blitzed the basket of freshly-baked foccacia bread.
Our daughters opted for the Sunday lunch menu, competitively priced at £16.95 for three courses, while the grown-ups chose the a la carte.
Daughter’s starter of cream of tomato and basil soup was a big hit, being rich and creamy, the basil adding bite to what could be a bland offering.
Our other daughter has a rather mature palate and gave a big thumbs-up to flavoursome duck liver and black truffle pate she balanced precariously on her toast, with accompanying chunky quince chutney.
My starter of paper-thin prosciutto with balsamic roast fig was both sweet and salty, and a delicately satisfying dish.
Husband, meanwhile, opted for a vegetarian antipasto Pugliese, a platter of Med veg, marinated and grilled, with fava bean puree. The veggie feast included parsnips, courgettes, artichokes, potatoes and olives, and was almost a meal in itself. All dishes were beautifully presented on white oblong plates or wooden platters and looked lovingly prepared.
Big meaty roasts followed for our hungry daughters – loin of pork and Butterworth’s 21-day aged sirloin of beef – both lovely cuts of flavoursome meat and generous portions.
The meat came with crispy duck- fat roasties, Yorkshire puds and generous dish of roasted veg – sweet carrots, parsnips and artichokes.
Each roast dinner came with a little pouring jug of homemade gravy – a nice touch.
My husband’s choice of pot-roast beef, Florentine style, was inspired – tender and juicy, it really was melt-in- the-mouth. It was accompanied by the creamiest of mash and sweet roasted root veg.
My choice of rump of lamb, puttanesca-style, was a similar meat fix but with a Med feel, with tomatoes, herbs, olives and capers sassing up the dish.
Filling cannellini bean mash added an interesting twist with a root veg accompaniement.
Daughters’ desserts of Eton Mess, this particular one made with blackberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries and raspberries, had us ticking our five-a-day charts, while divine chocolate torte had a gorgeous Green & Black’s expensive truffley taste and the sweet pastry was light, and just right.
My choice of winter warming apple crumble disappointed a little as it had a slightly burnt flavour to the topping, although the apple filling was perfectly tangy.
Husband’s choice of creamy coffee tiramisu dessert was a good caffeine hit and came served in a coffee cup.
Firenze has a relaxing ambience, making it somewhere to linger for a couple of hours over lunch, and we felt comfortable with the kids.
Roll on sunny days for alfresco drinks is all I can say.
INFORMATION
Address: Firenze, The Courtyard, off Holly Avenue West, 7 Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, NE2 2AE.
Open: Mon-Fri, noon-2.30pm and 5pm-11pm; Sat, 5pm-11pm; Sun, noon-6pm.
First impressions: Warm ambience.
Welcome: Friendly staff.
Style, design and furnishings: Simple décor, large black and white images of Italy on walls, wooden floors.
Cuisine: Upmarket Italian fare, plus the usual pizza and pasta.
Service: Attentive, smiley staff.
Value: Sunday lunch menu, three courses £16.95, great value for money, and a la carte came to £46.10 for two people. Mannara Grillo Pinot Grigio, £3.65, medium glass.
Disabled facilities: Not accessible, as restaurant is upstairs.
