Nestled on Walmgate, Il Paradiso Del Cibo is an authentic and homely Italian restaurant with a large menu of delicious meals and an excellently priced set menu. I’ve always loved Italian food, and since my local Italian restaurant closed due to retirement, I’ve been on the hunt for another restaurant that could compare.
I visited Il Paradiso Del Cibo after finding out about their great set menu from TripAdvisor. The deal includes three courses and a drink for £23 which, in comparison to many restaurants in York, seemed like an amazing deal!
When I first walked through the door, I was met by a very authentic, laid-back, no-frills interior – don’t let the plastic chairs put you off! The owner was born in Sardinia and has a wealth of experience in the restaurant trade, and he has brought all this expertise and knowledge to create delicious dishes at brilliant prices.
I have visited Italy quite a few times, and Il Paradiso del Cibo made me feel as if I was transported back to one of my favourite countries for the evening.
For my starter, I ordered the Marinara which is a thin pizza bread base with garlic, tomato, olive oil and oregano. The Marinara was simplicity at its best: the flavourful ingredients complimented each other beautifully and the pizza base was cooked to perfection. It is quite a large pizza for a starter, but it is absolutely delicious and great value.
I then ordered lasagna for my main, an absolute classic for me and a dish I often make at home. The beef ragu was tender, rich and flavourful; the pasta was perfectly cooked. Each bite was warming and comforting.
For dessert, I ordered the gelato, and my boyfriend chose the Cannolo Siciliano which was definitely the star of the two. A Cannolo Siciliano is a tube-shaped fried pastry dough with a ‘sweet, creamy ricotta filling’ with pistachios. A decadent dessert with incredible flavours- a perfect end to a great meal that I would recommend to anyone.
The meal was a 5 star experience, and I highly recommend you pay a visit to this rustic Italian restaurant. Buon appetito!