Pasta and Italians

[Bluetit1802]

I hate pasta with a vengeance and always have, but I love Italian restaurants. I usually have a steak with mushrooms. In the old days I had chips, I might now have a salad and half a dozen chips. (I can cope easily with that amount). There is plenty to pick at the menus.

 

[Jaylee]

..... &'garlic mushrooms. Just make sure they don't come "breaded."?

If there was a "common sense button" to click @bulkbiker , @lovinglife , @Bluetit1802 & @himtoo ? I'd be breaking the **** screen on my overpriced iPad.

 

[asparagusp]

Italian food need not be carb heavy

antipasti misto ( cured meats , olives , artichokes )
insalata mista ( mixed salad )
fiori di zucchini ( courgette flowers )
Insalata caprese ( buffalo mozzarella and tomato )
bistecca ( beef steak ) alla fiorentina is preferred ( T Bone )
zuppa minnestone ( vegetable soup )
cipolle e tonno ( tuna and onions )
carabaccia ( cabbage soup )
formaggi ( cheeses )
frutta di stagione ( fruits of the season )

as advised earlier in this thread -- phone ahead and ask what options they can offer -- they will want your custom.

buon appetito !!

Not in Bella Italia! lol

Anyway here's another suggestion. A compromise price wise, nice relaxed interiors and started by an Italian Chef - Carluccio's - http://www.carluccios.com/menus ,

 

[asparagusp]

Tip - Italians squeeze lemon juice on their chicken, maybe steak too.

 

[Jaylee]

Tip - Italians squeeze lemon juice on their chicken, maybe steak too.

How bitter do you like your Itallian then...?

 

[himtoo]

Tip - Italians squeeze lemon juice on their chicken, maybe steak too.

totally true @asparagusp
Lombatina di Vitello ( veal T bone steak ) is always served with lemon and best extra virgin olive oil
Molto bello !!

 

[Johnjoe13]

Not in Bella Italia! lol

Anyway here's another suggestion. A compromise price wise, nice relaxed interiors and started by an Italian Chef - Carluccio's - http://www.carluccios.com/menus ,

Now this is one to think about and plenty of places to choose from

 

[bulkbiker]

Not in Bella Italia! lol

Anyway here's another suggestion. A compromise price wise, nice relaxed interiors and started by an Italian Chef - Carluccio's - http://www.carluccios.com/menus ,

Looks to me like Bella Italia has the better low carb choices..

 

[asparagusp]

But not as good and this is one off meal!

 

[Jaylee]

But not as good and this is one off meal!

However the OP's "invite" is to the Bella Italia.....

Which even I can translate as a "shed load of carbs on the menu."

 

[bulkbiker]

But not as good and this is one off meal!

Always found Carluccio's overpriced and not very good apart from the coffee.. as well as too much pasta for me..

 

[Jaylee]

@bulkbiker you know the old saying.... "It ain't over till the lady falsetto knocks out the last tune vocally." (Choosing my words empathically in this case regarding Italian opera.)

 

[David Wass]

Try my fitness pal. On there will be maybe not all but most restuarant nutritional info. If you look at the menu beforehand and search my fitness pal or google it will tell you nutritional info. The app fat secret has a list of the majority of chain restuarants with nutritional info. Hope it helps.

 

[phila]

My clinic says it's ok to have a treat once in a while otherwise it is hard to stick to a healthy diet. Consider this meal out as your treat. If I don't eat before I go to bed my bloods are higher in the morning than if I have had a treat like a meal out. It's a long road so take it handy.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

I like the sound of this from the menu. Would have olives too from the nibbles menu and carry some emergency nuts in my handbag. Enjoy your night out, OP

Insalata Verde
Avocado, green beans, peas, cucumber, mixed leaves & spring onion with salsa verde & pumpkin seeds

 

[lessci]

Bella do Vegetti!! (If they've not sold out) which you can have we any of their sauces

 

[asparagusp]

Insalata Verde
Avocado, green beans, peas, cucumber, mixed leaves & spring onion with salsa verde & pumpkin seeds

My experience of Insalata Verde in Italy is Iceberg lettuce which has no taste, corn which I hate, grated carrot which I also hate and cherry tomatoes and olives which I adore!

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

My experience of Insalata Verde in Italy is Iceberg lettuce which has no taste, corn which I hare, grated carrot which I also hate and cherry tomatoes and olives which I adore!

This one sounds much nicer. I hope it is anyway. I went to an Italian-style chain recently, Zizzi, and had a salad that was off-the-chart tasty. "Tenderstem broccoli on cannellini beans, courgette ribbons & mixed leaves tossed in super green pesto with balsamic tomatoes, radish, watercress & toasted omega seeds." Not sure how authentic Italian it was, but I loved it!

 

[asparagusp]

Good to hear! Zizzi I saw at the O2 but the queue was horrendous so left in for another day.

https://www.zizzi.co.uk/food

 

[noblehead]

Good to hear! Zizzi I saw at the O2 but the queue was horrendous so left in for another day.

https://www.zizzi.co.uk/food

IMHO the small family run Italian restaurants are much better than the restaurant chains, not only for taste and quality but for personal service too.