La Taverna is one of my favourite places to eat in town. The food is simple real Italian food, made with fantastic, fresh ingredients.

It’s not mega-plush, but it’s relaxed atmosphere is just another reason to love it. Add to that the typical Italian service and all we’ve left to talk about are the details.

You can just have a glass/bottle of wine in the area downstairs, and eat upstairs.  So, on my last visit there my partner and I hada glass of wine and asked for a table upstairs. We were told it would be about 15 minutes, grand. We chatted and talked and we, and our wine, were then brought up to our table. When the meal was over and we were ready to move, we were told when there was a table available downstairs and our remaining wine was brought down to us.

As this is a real Italian, you can order you meal in three courses Primi, Secondi and Dolci.

First course is usually pasta or risotto, second is meat (with veggies as sides) and dessert. Of course, you don’t have to order like this, you can order what you like in whatever variation.

Last time I was there, I had one of the most beautiful salads I have ever had as a starter. Crisp cos lettuce mixed with icebery, loads of parmesan, walnuts and balmanic vinigrette (maybe a touch too much of the balmasic but hey I’m splitting hairs).

My partner went for the Penne all’arrabiata, which is what she usually gets when not in a pizza mood. It was spicy enough without being mouth blowing and the penne had been made in house - delicious.

For my main I had pork chops which were just gorgeous. Mouth-waterin with rosemary and garlic all over them. They used to have the world’s most gorgeous lamb chops but seem to have taken them off the menu.

We shared a bottle of wine from a wine list which is the tip of the wine-berg in there. You can walk around and choose any one of the bottles on display if you so choose.

All together it came to €60. An absolute snip.

I thouroughly reccomend La Taverna, it’s perfect for dates, chats and shooting the breeze. The staff are friendly and seem allergic to rushing the customer. Is it obvious I love this place? Am I gushing?

Five word revew: Ultimate Italian cheap and cheerful