Food review: Italia, The Park Hotel in Bangalore

Italia, The Park Hotel, MG Road
When For lunch and dinner, on till September 4
Call 25320445

Italia has one big advantage as a restaurant — its décor, warmth and limited seating give it an instant international look. Pristine white linen, sparkling glasses on the table welcome you, perhaps a little formally, the first time you walk in. Over the years, the restaurant has garnered a fan following in the city, thanks to the food, prepared with the freshest of ingredients available. This week, the restaurant is having a Tuscan food festival that focuses on some of the most popular ingredients available there.

Chef Rajiv Vimal admits that they’ve done a bit of tweaking to create something different, but the flavours are more or less intact. Of course, white truffles, which are supposedly a common feature in the Tuscan region. aren’t there on the menu — unless I missed it.

There’s a hint of both traditional and modern dishes on the menu — so you can take your pick. A special menu, offering salads, entrée, appetisers and of course desserts tempt you to pretty much try everything. Meat features big on a Tuscan menu, so I’d recommend you to pick from that specific selection.

However, seafood is one good choice too. Try the pan-fried prawns with cannellini beans and chillies or the ham with mozzarella cheese and orange. Follow this up with the delicate Melon And Parma Ham Soup. From the pasta section a favourite would be the Gratinated Potato Gnocchi with goat cheese, roasted garlic and pine or even the Tagliolini with pancetta, porcini, tuna and capers. For the main course, I tried the salmon steak but would recommend the Pork Fillet on sautéd spinach perhaps. As for the desserts, play safe unless you’re used to unique flavours.

The chocolate almond liquor pudding tasted more like a brownie, but the Black Grape Cold Dessert With Ginger And Hazelnut Risotto sure should be tempting.