Sorrento Restaurant

Sorrento is a traditional Italian, restaurant, offering silver service amidst elegant surroundings. Jackie and Tony de Angelis and their family see to it that their guests, be they business, family or friends enjoy dishes made with the finest ingredients, with friendly service and a great selection of Italian wine.

There is something vaguely whimsical that in the birthplace of one of England's greatest playwrights an Italian restaurant of the quality of Sorrento should be on hand to delight the lives of those who flock to Stratford upon Avon to witness the works of Shakespeare, well laced with their cast of highly convincing Italian characters.

In the summer al fresco dining is available on the patio. Naturally, in this theatre-blessed town, pre and after theatre dinners are served, and there is a three course lunch special for tourists and business people.

A quick glance at the menu reveals traditional, well-loved dishes such as mussels gently simmered in white wine, with garlic, chilli and parsley in a tomato sauce, warm ciabatta bread with virgin olive oil and an interesting selection of Mediterranean mixed olives plump king prawns sautéed in parsley butter.

No Italian menu would be complete without a selection of pasta dishes, amongst which are penne that has been lightly tossed with broccoli and prawns, then cooked in white wine and mascarpone cheese sauce, freshly made risotto, or the chef's freshly filled ravioli. All pasta dishes may be taken as a starter or main course.

Main fish dishes include salmon and lemon sole with capers and garlic, simmered in white wine, tomato and parsley sauce and calamari fritti, deep fried crispy squid. Escallops of veal coated in breadcrumbs come topped with mushrooms, asparagus and Parmesan in a tomato sauce, or served more simply in a lemon butter and parsley sauce.

The Bard, who displays no evidence of having been inclined to vegetarianism as far as is known, might reasonably have been expected to approve of the filetto della casa, fillet steak flamed in brandy with crushed black peppercorns in a cream, mushroom and brandy sauce. The culinary flamenco is a popular feature of this restaurant, applied with a frequency and enthusiasm that would have had the witches of Cawdor reaching for their broomsticks with cackling alacrity.

A daily selection of sweets at which the Italians are so adept, brings the meal to a graceful ending, and those who love their cheese will rejoice to see a good selection from Italy, with Dolcelatte, their answer to England's Stilton, well to the fore. Gelato is Italian for ice cream, and the selection at Sorrento is agreeably bewildering.

There is particularly good value to be had at lunchtime when the set menu is on offer at £8.90 for two courses, 3 for £12.90. At such prices the rascally and un-lovely Shylock would be counting his beans all the way to Venice.

For more details, including other menus, and special arrangements for party and corporate reservations, do click on their excellent and user-friendly Website.