By Mark Williams
Copyright dailypost
When I mentioned going out to a romantic Italian restaurant, my wife had dreams of perhaps, a meal by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. One of the most exclusive but expensive places to dine in the world. However, Vale Street Kitchen, Denbigh is a must-visit destination for people who love Italian food, but at a more affordable price.
Denbigh town has its own fair share of historic sites with beautiful landscapes all around. Denbigh Castle and town walls were built between 1282 and 1311 and is now in the loving care of CADW. Denbigh Castle was built by King Edward I in order to establish his dominance over Wales. The ancient castle now sits proudly, overlooking the medieval town.
Denbigh might not be as warm and sunny as Venice, but the Vale Street Kitchen has a heated outdoor terrace. The outdoor area was a busy popular place for drinks during our visit. Inside, the small venue has a simple rustic vibe with only six tables. There was a specials board on the blue painted wall along with a few local art prints.
A sole hard-working waitress was doing a fine job of greeting people and serving up the dishes. She handed us the menus and provided water for our table for two. We declined drinks, but there were the usual Italian suspects of Peroni and Birra Moretti along with an extensive wine list. Cocktails such as a limoncello spritz were also on offer.
The menu changes quite often with the use of seasonal produce. For instance, they have their own Denbigh plum trees, which they use for specials, when its harvest time.
Starters included light bites from £4 upwards such as Cerignolla olives, House focaccia, Dressed rocket with pecorino salad or Bruschetta of the week.
The main dishes were priced from £11 to £14 and included all the Italian classics such as Brisket Ragu Rigatoni, Conchiglie, Fettucce, Calabrian Chilli Rigatoni Carbonara or a Caesar Salad and smoked pancetta.
We decided to start with house focaccia, smoked salt and olive oil. Focaccia is an Italian leavened flat bread with a lovely sponge type texture. This makes it perfect to dip in and out of the salty extra virgin olive oil. We were given three huge chunks of the bread, which was enough for us to share.
For my main I went for the Italian classic of Rigatoni Carbonara. Rigatoni’s large, ridged tubes were perfect for capturing the creamy sauce and bits of smokey pancetta, ensuring every bite was full of flavor. The creamy sauce made from eggs and cheese, created a luxurious and savory taste that complemented the robustness of the pasta.
My wife went for Fettucce Pomodoro, slow cooked San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and parmesan. San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato, which originate in the Campania region of Italy. They are known for their quality and simmer down well.
The luscious red sauce was simple but had a delicious rich taste. It was covered with basil leaves and had the most inviting aroma. The silky flat ribbons of pasta soaked up the sauce perfectly and tasted both rustic and authentic. Cooked al dente, the thick fettuccine stood up well to the sauce. Yes, she splashed a bit of the sauce down her chin, but she didn’t really notice as the dish was so tasty.
The chef certainly liked his Parmesan as it was generously sprinkled over the top of both dishes. However, the shavings from the granular texture of the cheese really enhanced the taste and the flavour of the food.
The people on the next table to us, were unable to finish off all their food, due to the generous portions, so were given a takeaway box to transport their food home. We were also pretty full, due to all the bread and pasta, so sadly declined dessert.
It was a real shame as I really love Tiramisu and I could see it on the list of options for a reasonable £6. Other desserts included Affogato for £4, or chilled limoncello for £2.50.
A gondola ride in Venice is certainly something to remember. However, an evening at Vale Street Kitchen, will be a lot cheaper and just as memorable, especially as a flash thunderstorm had turned the romantic castle reflected streets of Denbigh into canals of water, flowing down Vale Street.
Be sure to check out the Vale Street Kitchen, Facebook page before planning your visit, as they sometimes offer extended hours during weekdays and weekends. Current offer includes any pasta dish plus spritz or soft drink for £15 on a Wednesday.
Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday 12 noon to 10pm
Atmosphere- Romantic and memorable
Car Parking- Street parking one hour or public car park directly across the road.
Disabled Access- Limited room inside with a few steps to the entrance
Service- Excellent service from hard working waitress.
Overall- Cosy affordable Italian restaurant, which is much cheaper than a meal by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.
Vale Street Kitchen
31 Vale St