For a taste of genuine Italian cooking in deepest Surrey, take yourself - and your friends - along to Olivetto ristorante and wine bar and seize the opportunity to sample some of Italy's finest traditional cuisine.

Olivetto is located on Guildford High Street, in front of the Guildhall and the building dates back to Elizabethan times when it is believed to have been the house of the Town Mayor. The front room, also known as the Dickens room, is steeped in history and was probably the location of the Mayor's first meeting room.

The interior is much enhanced by open beams, wooden floors and an attractive bar where guests can enjoy a relaxed drink. This convivial atmosphere extends to the front dining area, an ideal place to savour a meal overlooking the High Street and famous Guildford clock, and to the outside seating available throughout summer.

Their Italian chefs have brought from their warm and sunny homeland some of the favourite recipes passed down from generation to generation, and all their dishes are freshly made to order. Should you have any special requirements then just let the waiter know and they will be happy to do their best to oblige.

As you would expect, in the normal warm-hearted Italian way, bambini are always especially welcomed, a real fuss is made of them and they don't get referred to as 'kids'.

All the pasta is freshly made by their chefs in traditional Italian style with choices like linguine served with a seafood mix and tomato, or penne served with a chicken and pesto sauce or tagliatelle with buffalo mozzarella, basil and cherry tomato sauce.

However, the menu is wide ranging, from starters like bocconcini di mozzarella - buffalo mozzarella wrapped in speck and served with balsamic dressing sauce, to pancetta e avocado - salad of bacon, chicken, avocado with balsamic dressing sauce, definitely well beyond your standard Italian fare.

Italians have special ways with fish, and you should expect to find fillet of sea bream, prawns, courgette, garlic and cherry tomatoes, served with mixed crushed potatoes and leeks, or pan fried fillet of cod with pancetta, chilli, garlic, sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and served with crushed potatoes and leeks.

Main course specials may include vitello al marsala, pan fried veal escalope and marsala wine sauce, served with oven rosated rosemary potatoes or strips of chicken wrapped in pancetta, sweet peppers, black olives, cherry tomatoes and chilli sauce with mixed crushed potatoes and leeks.

Italian wine at its best is a real delight and the list at Olivetto starts with decent house wine by the glass or bottle, finishing with, amongst many others, a notable style of Moscadello made from the local grape and slowly fermented in new oak to produce a straw coloured yellow wine with golden reflections.

For further information on their events, and their ability to deal with yours, getting married at Olivetto, gift vouchers and many other things including their history and philosophy, click on their Website and become absorbed.