Artista Restaurant & Pizzeria

A fairly recent opening in Ipswich, said to be the second oldest settlement in UK, Artista is bringing healthy Italian food to a part of the country which is already pretty well blessed with the English variety, but no matter, in these egalitarian times let's get on and enjoy whatever is on offer.

Which at Artista is starters such as fantasia dell'Artista, a seafood fantasy, about five vegetarian dishes including freshly baked Italian garlic bread, and old favourites like mussels cooked in garlic and wine sauce. An 'interlude' course of soup could be crema di pomodoro, or cream of tomato for those not interested in impressing the waiter.

Primi Piatti list spaghetti, risotto, penne, ravioli and various forms of pasta, amongst which the eye could be drawn to pasta with bacon, cream, tomato egg and cheese, or gnocchi with salmon and prawns in cream sauce, though my personal favourite would have to be spaghetti with seafood in tomato sauce and fresh herbs, a simple dish that brings out the best all round.

Secondi Piatti offers an impressive range of fish and meat or chicken dishes starting with deep fried scampi and calamari, or swordfish char grilled, followed by sliced veal served with a Marsala wine based sauce, or fillet of beef with green peppers in cream sauce. A prime favourite is straccetti di pollo alla Gorgonzola; yes you've guessed, sliced chicken in blue cheese, white wine, cream sauce and fresh herbs. The usual side dishes are available.

To those of you enduring the onset of pizza withdrawl symptoms, fear not, they are there, starting with the classic margarita, the quattro formaggi, the four seasons with tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushroom and olives. Extra toppings can be added from a variety of fruit and herbs, meat or fish and vegetables.

A set lunch of one course for £5 or 2 for £7 seems incredibly good value and should be a winner with the business community in downtown Ipswich.

A strongly Italian wine list offers house wines by the bottle, half, and large or small glasses from prices as low as £1.85 a glass.