The Wednesday of the February half term was particularly expensive. The boy needed a new coat and a haircut – as well, of course, as a go on two of the rides stationed at the local shopping centre, and a couple of new Hot Wheels cars.
The haircut was a bit of a mission – he’s not a fan. My trick? To get him excited about going for lunch at a restaurant a few doors down from his barber, to arrive 15 minutes before the doors opened for lunch, and to suggest that a haircut (with a free lollipop) might be a good way to pass the time…
It worked! We were then the first ones to arrive at Rustico for their lunch service: the first lunch service of their new set menu. Served from Monday to Friday, it offers two courses for £16.95 or three for £19.95 and, even better, it includes a glass of house wine and a coffee at the end of the meal.
It’s a charming, cosy place, its interior true to its beautiful timber-framed exterior, and festooned with a range of Italian goodies from panettone to olive oil. With just one table booked for lunch, we were able to sit where we wanted – but the place soon filled up with other walk-ins.
At £7.75, the kids’ menu was equally good value, including a main, a scoop of ice cream and a drink. The tall glass of apple juice was certainly more generous than the chain Italian restaurants he’s eaten at before, and it was lovely that our server agreed to his request for capers to be added to his pepperoni pizza (the boy’s obsessed!)
The pizza was a hit. The base was thin and fairly crispy, the pepperoni and capers plentiful and packed with flavour. You could tell the tomato sauce was of a decent quality, too.
Talking of tomatoes, my pizza didn’t have the usual variety. Instead, it came smothered in yellow Piennolo tomato pulp, which was beautifully sweet and fragrant. Combined with huge chunks of marinated artichoke heart, salty Pecorino and thinly-sliced fennel salami, it was incredible. I’m not sure why my base was different to the boy’s, but those crusts were deliciously chewy.
He actually allowed me to taste a tiny spoonful of his chocolate ice cream: this too seemed great quality, with a lovely rich flavour. My choice was the polenta cake, and while its coarse, dense texture may not appeal to everyone, the flavour was delicious. I did have food envy, though: if I’d realised beforehand that the bread and butter pudding on the menu was made with panettone (which I only learned by overhearing a conversation at another table), I’d have gone for that instead…
The house red was decent, as was my post-prandial coffee, and the service was genuine and friendly. There was a small mix-up with the bill, but this was rectified quickly and apologetically.
Based on the quality of the food and the price of the set lunch menu, Rustico definitely deserves to be busier than it is. Risbygate Street may be a little out of the main town centre shopping and dining area, but it’s still within easy walking distance – and it definitely won’t disappoint.