Old-fashioned charm and pure dessert delight at La Piazza

Oct 13 2011 Ladies Who Lunch

THIS week, the ladies sample La Piazza restaurant in Braidwood, Carluke.

In Italian, 'piazza' means square. Appropriately, La Piazza Italian restaurant is set within a square area above the Clyde Valley.

The smart, modern building with portico frontage has an attractive entrance with adjacent planters. Those of a certain generation will remember 'square' as a term once used to describe something old-fashioned. But La Piazza meets this definition only in the sense of not having a website or online menu to attract prospective diners - in most respects, it is bang up-to-date.

The restaurant interior is airy and modern, the only nod to the past being traditional family photos or scenes from Italy. The piped music, which seemed a bit loud at first, faded into the background as the room filled and didn't spoil the ambience.

We welcomed the good 'old-fashioned' courtesy shown by the proprietor, who greeted us and offered to take our coats.

Once seated, we were offered the daily lunch menu, with several choices of starter and main course for only £8.50. Dessert costs an additional £3.90, but at lunchtime two courses would probably satisfy most appetites.

Glasses of chilled tap water were brought on request, and then we began the difficult part - making our choices from the appealing list of starters and main courses.

Of the starters, the arancini (delicious deep-fried, but not greasy, rice balls filled with soft cheese) intrigued and pleased, as did the mushrooms in a well-balanced, creamy garlic sauce. The crostini BTL (?) was a tasty and filling concoction of garlic bread, bacon, cheese and tomato. The minestrone good, but could have been thicker. An ample portion of bread accompanied the soup and two pieces of garlic bread with the mushrooms. There was pate or carrot and herb soup too.

Among the main courses there were three chicken dishes, including a risotto with a sticky chilli glaze, steak pie, a vegetarian pasta, pork medallions in apricot sauce with mustard mash and vegetables, and specials which included pasta with bacon, Italian sausage in tomato and chilli sauce, and gammon steak with caramelised pineapple, salad and chips. Some traditional dishes, but equally some quite modern ones, too.

We ordered the gammon steak, the pork, and the chicken risotto - and did not regret our choices. Every plate was virtually cleared, apart from a few chips, and our comments on presentation and standard of cooking were positive.

There was an extensive wine menu in addition to a variety of soft drinks. Our choice of a red from southern Italy with an unusual name – a Squinzano from southern Italy - was £17.50 a bottle and also available by the glass, as was a white Corvo. Of the two, the red was the more appealing.

Despite being pretty full, we were unable to resist sampling a dessert. We rejected the dessert board menu choices of caramel apple granny, lemon and lime cheesecake, profiteroles bianco and hot chocolate cake, but succumbed to the offer of a Turkish Delight ice cream! We shared two of these chocolate-coated ices among four, Coffees provided a fitting end to a very enjoyable meal.

Our scores: Location 8.5. Ambience 8.5. Menu/Food 9. Service 9. Value for Money 9. Overall score 44/50. A star for good food at a good price. Make like the Italians and head for La Piazza!