L’uva Vino e Cucina York Review

L’uva Vino e Cucina York Review

Heading up on the train on another balmy hot evening with belly’s rumbling at the thought and hope we might be eating some real authentic Italian food. In most towns or cities in the region, there’s one or maybe two restaurants doing lip-smackingly good Italian food. Places like Stuzzi in Harrogate, Zucco on the outskirts of Leeds and another firm favourite Santoni near Keighley. Thankfully the corporate ruin of one of our favourite cuisines seems to be fading with the chains shrinking their grasp on the high street and guests opting for a more authentic experience.

Since the closure of Le Langhe back in 2016 the good people in York have struggled to give one place the crown of best Italian in the area, with many of the current restaurants doing a slight variation of the same menu. Thankfully for them and anyone else that loves great, authentic Italian cooking and ingredients ( I have yet to meet someone that doesn’t) York can now lay claim to L’uva Vino e Cucina.

L’uva is the creation of fellow foodies and wine lovers Joe and Georgia. The pair met and spent a good few years in Florence, soaking up the passion for the finest Italian ingredients, fabulous wine and the whole ambiance of Italian hospitality, not to mention growing close bonds with vineyard owners, artisan producers and suppliers to source the best elements to showcase throughout the L’uva menus.

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Located in a former estate agents to the bottom of Micklegate, L’uva is a stone’s throw from the city centre and a plate or glass away from the heart of Italy. With a menu and décor that lets the guest dictate their evening. We were pleasantly surprised to see casual drinkers enjoying wine and snacks at the bar to diners working their way through the menu of decadent Italian dishes.

Wanting to see exactly just how good the ingredients were in their unadulterated form we opted to start with an appetiser of Italian meats and cheeses. What great way to kick things off, the attention to detail with the ingredients sourced together with freshly baked focaccia and traditional accompaniments. Even the green tomato chutney was produced by one of the wine producers and flown over.

Onto the wines next, with Georgia’s knowledge and love of quality Italian wines together with the close contacts back in Italy we were blown away by the wine flights to showcase the menu. Opting for a red and white between us Georgia gave us a showcase of the superb wines throughout the menu that they’ve handpicked together with the delicious ingredients.

As I mentioned the menu lets the guests dictate the evening but not wanting to miss out we decided to do how the Italian do and opt for the four courses. This may sound a little too indulgent, however, L’uva is definitely quality over quantity. Our homemade tagliatelle with light flavoursome duck ragu together with a homemade spaghetti in a creamy sauce with generous shavings of fresh truffle were absolute heaven. Both plates of home-made pasta perfectly cooked, al dente.

For those wanting the generic starter, mains and dessert you will not be disappointed when it comes to ‘secondi’ either (trust us though do all four you will not regret it). There’s a great selection of dishes to suit the veggies, pescatarians and carnivores amongst us. With the boundless quality, we’d already seen together with a mouth-watering selection on the menu we were completely spoilt for choice when it came to the next course. After much deliberation, I opted for a real southern Italian rustic dish of tender octopus in a rich spicy Calabrian tomato sauce with potatoes. This really hit the spot to reveal the diversity of regional Italian cuisine and also the expertise in the kitchen. On the other side of the table, a light fresh courgette frittata served with a zesty pine nut salad and intense saffron sauce. Perfect for a summers evening.

We were very nearly stuffed from the abundance of great wine and food but couldn’t resist a look at the dessert menu. With a range of delicious dishes all house-made together with Italian gelato made from scratch, I opted for the delicious ricotta and raspberry torte, served with milk ice-cream and white chocolate crumb. With a part-time chocolate addict as a dining partner, the torta Gianduja was a compulsory choice. A real chocolate lover’s heaven with a rich, decadent chocolate and hazelnut cake served with light, creamy hazelnut gelato. Together with a glass of Georgia’s expertly chosen dessert wine.

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L’uva faultlessly combines the informal setting of your favourite wine bar together with a neighbourhood style restaurant that’s perfect for a catch up with friends, a weekly meal out or a place to celebrate any special event. With a range of fabulous wines and spirits to suit any occasion together with a menu for nibbles, aperitvo, or a fully indulgent Italian night feasting we’re sure that L’uva will become a firm favourite with people of York and beyond.

L’uva York – 5 Bridge St, York YO1 6DD – 01904 626900

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