Bella Maria is located next to VUE at the Capitol Centre Pic: Bella Maria / Facebook This week my mother Yvonne, my daughter GZ and I paid a visit
It was the first time any of us had eaten there, despite it being walking distance from Yvonne’s home, because we’d all independently assumed that it was yet another Italian-style, mediocre chain restaurant. That’s probably due to the “Bella” in the name combined with the advertising banners, menus and generally polished look of the place.
The chicken was beautifully tender and mildly spiced in a marinade that added flavour without much heat, and was liberally smothered with a creamy, tangy, tzatziki style sauce. It lay on slices of pitta bread that bore little resemblance to the dense, supermarket offerings that maintain the temperature of Satan’s armpit as you try to open them before becoming floppy, grey and sullen the moment you succeed. These pitta were fluffy yet slightly crispy in all the right places.
As this wasn’t my first plate swapping rodeo I didn’t ask what she thought until we’d finished our meals, because I didn’t want to feel guilty and offer to swap back. However, I tried a little scoop and agreed that the sharp acidity of the tomatoes amplified the slightly sour taste of the feta and wasn’t toned down or balanced with any sweetness in the sauce.
For a truly authentic ’80s Italian restaurant experience these ancient three-footers must grind no more than two peppercorns per hour, and the waiter must move around the table asking each diner if they’d like some before giving the base a half twist in the vague direction of their plate and challenging, “Is that enough?”.
Personally, I’m happy to tip good or passable service, but I don’t like it being added on automatically. It takes from customers the opportunity to do something nice by adding a tip in recognition of a job well done, forcing them instead to accept either the money grab or the awkwardness of asking for it to be removed.
Sign up below to receive Blog Preston's weekly newsletter. It wings its way into inboxes every Sunday rounding up our best content from the last week and a look ahead to what's happening.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inquest opens into death of teenager Bella Greer after vigil heldHuge crowds attended a memorial event in honour of the 14-year-old last weekend
Read more »
Glasgow city centre's Bath Street closed due to demoMajor Glasgow city centre road closed due to demo
Read more »
Police warning as Shrewsbury town centre river paths 'under water' after heavy rainPolice have urged people to avoid walking or cycling through water along the river in Shrewsbury following recent heavy rainfall.
Read more »
Hundreds march through city centre for pro-Palestine protestsProtesters chanted 'free Palestine' as they marched through the city
Read more »
Liverpool city centre road closed after car crashPatrol officers remained at the scene at 4.30pm
Read more »
Belfast arts collective looking to future after opening first city centre spotVault Artist Studios has over 100 members and offers affordable studio space for multi-disciplinary artists
Read more »