Situated in the heart of The Italian Quarter, Enoteca Della Langhe is a great little spot. The menu is limited to cheese, salads and cold meats, sorry charcuterie, during the evening, with a more extensive selection for lunch.

If you like your food fresh, simply-prepared and served by friendly, cool as cucumber Italian waitrons, this is the place for you. It’s perfect for a quick bite before heading to the pictures, or a chin wag and a bitch about work.

On the menu you’ll find both cheese plates and charuterie, or both, in various sizes from €9.50 which are served with a generous basket of good crusty bread and a some delicious Italian honey. There is also the choice of various Crostini – toasted bread with seasonal toppings.

The rustic feel is so genuine that I often go in, have some bread and just pour the olive oil on it. Their olive oil is some of the best I have ever tasted; nutty and not too oily on the tongue.

Their salads are small, side portion sized, but made from the best of ingredients. I love their Caprese  salad (€6); big, scarlet, juicy tomatoes served with milky mozzarella and some basil leaves. Simple, but with such simplicity there is no place for mistakes and I have never found one.

Another favourite is the Breasola, with delicious cured beef and rocket – a snip a for a fiver.My only complaint here is that, with two such strong flavours, something moist to offset them would be perfect.

Here I have gone on and one about with food without mentioning the wine. The choice of wine, chosen by Enoteca’s loving owner, Mick Wallace, is vast. The walls are covered with shelves of bottles which you can take down and purchase to imbibe there or take away. There is also an excellent menu of by-the-glass choices.

One of the best things about Enoteca Della Langhe, however, is the staff. They are polite, pleasantly offering considered advice on wine choice. I particularly enjoy how they are with each other. This is more than just a wine bar/cafe, Enoteca Della Langhe is more like an Italian community centre with people coming and going greeting each other kisses and shouts, bringing an energy to the place which is just as enjoyable as the what’s on the menu.

Enoteca is super gay-friendly. Myself and the missus have often gone in for a glass of wine only to watch it turn into a bottle (or more) and, as a result, get a little bit loved-up. Not an eyebrow is raised. I think if there were ever any homophobia present in the place, Mick Wallace would rip it out asap – it just doesn’t feature in his vision of enjoying life after work.

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