Wow, I'd read reviews and was expecting a lot. The reality was even better. Great decor and ambience. The hostess was very welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. We sat at the bar to have an aperitif and peruse the menu, it was like we were meeting old friends as we chatted to the barstaff who were very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. Its not your typical Italian restaurant, there's no pasta on the menu. Its more like Italian tapas. We were really hungry and ordered 11 dishes to share, my brother has a very healthy appetite. The beef carpaccio melted in the mouth, the melon and parma ham was uplifted with slithers of fresh reggio parmigiana. My brother absolutely loved the lamb ribs with a tangy bbq sauce, the meat was soft, tender and falling off the bone. I indulged in 6 oysters natural which were big, plump, fresh and properly shucked so they still tasted of the ocean, some of the nicest oysters I've ever had. The scallops with delicate flavours of Thailand, the grilled prawns off the daily specials board and the sicilian salad of fennel, fresh orange segments, mint and other amazing tastes were all incredibly moreish. I even found room for a delicate panna cotta with fresh berries. Our favourite dish was a mix of mushrooms in a rich gorganzola and salsa verde sauce. I haven't stopped thinking about the food and cant wait to go back. Everything we ate was fresh, presented beautifully and prepared with careful attention paid to the balance of flavours in each dish. Now it wasn't cheap but we had two cocktails each, a nice bottle of wine and after dinner liquors without which it would have been much cheaper, obviously. It was a special night out for us and worth every penny. I travel and dine out extensively and often have amazing dishes but its very rare that I find everything delicious. I honestly cant recommend A'vucciria highly enough. I'm planning to eat there again very soon. There's lots more on the menu I want to sample.
A’Vucciria – Rawtenstall