When the weekend comes and the sun is shining there are few better things to do than head into the city centre for a spot of brunch.
That is exactly what I decided to do along with my partner and young son on Saturday as we headed down to Rico’s Ristorante for their new summer brunch menu.
Located on North Castle Street, the eatery is slap bang in the middle of the action and is the perfect spot to kick off a day uptown.
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Rico’s launched their £45 ‘La Bella Vita’ menu on Saturday June 3 which offers the table a shared Italian platter for starters and a set menu for the mains along with half a bottle of prosecco each and an Aperol spritz on arrival.
We were welcomed by the staff who were all extremely friendly and accommodating - making sure to find us a table that could squeeze a buggy next to it.
There was a really energetic and young vibe to the restaurant during the brunch, with a DJ playing and a saxophone artist belting out tunes as you enjoyed a bite to eat.
Speaking honestly, I would say it is probably one to leave the baby at home for but, with that being said, the staff could not have shown more of an interest in our little man, pulling faces and doing all they could to keep him entertained whenever they passed the table.
Starting off with an Aperol spritz is never a bad thing on a warm summer’s day and this was quickly accompanied by our shared platter that was made up of bruschetta, arancini, Sicilian olives and a selection of Italian cured meats.
Both the arancini and the bruschetta were extremely fresh and delicious - it was all made better when our bottle of prosecco arrived to wash down the traditional dishes.
Next up was the mains. We were given the choice of smoked ricotta ravioli which was made up of broccoli, chilli and hazelnuts; roasted Cumbrian chicken with fregola, hazelnut and wild garlic and North Sea cod with peperonata and courgette.
My fiancée opted for the ravioli which I of course nabbed a bit of - it had a delicious smoky flavour and was very light, the ideal dish if you are planning a long day boozing with friends.
I asked the waiter for their favourite, which was the North Sea cod. The fish was cooked to perfection and was deliciously flaky and the bed of vegetables had a lovely accompanying kick.
Since we were so well behaved, our six-month-old son especially, we took a little look at the dessert menu and ordered a panacotta made with blood orange, forced rhubarb and lemon balm as well as a blacketyside strawberry cheesecake.
Both were extremely tasty and a real treat for our sweet tooth taste buds.
The afternoon was an ideal escape out of the house and the staff could not have been more warm and welcoming with the way they catered to our needs.
Although I would say this is the perfect light afternoon brunch for a group of young friends that are looking to kick off a long day on the town or tourists hoping to get off to a good start in the capital.
Rico's Ristorante Owner Stefano Pieraccini said: "La Bella Vita is, with all intentions, gloriously lavish but with the leisurely easy-going feel suited for a Saturday way of dining.
“It is also a much-welcomed opportunity for us to showcase our food and drink offerings here at Rico's in the splendid surroundings of our unique and stylish North Castle Street restaurant".
Brunch tickets are available for £45 per person. To book a visit click here.
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