La Panza

A traditional trattoria with oceans of rustic charm, this eatery is an authentic taste of rural Italy in Bristol. And if that doesn’t convince you, ‘la panza’ refers to a full and happy belly…

Taking pride and place in a quaint little cottage in Redcliffe, La Panza looks every inch the part. Walk inside and their intimate dining room whisks you away on a Mediterranean vacation. Quaint, red-checkered tablecloths combined with candle-lit tables and all the cottage’s original features creates an irresistibly cosy space that is completely reminiscent of Italy’s finest trattorias.

The menu heralds all the regional specialities and cultural cornerstones that make Italian cuisine so special. Using recipes handed down for generations, supper begins with small plates of fresh fried fish, sharing boards of cured meats and soft burrata with an extra creamy heart (perfect with some fluffy, homemade focaccia.)

For the main course, you have a few thoughtful dishes to choose from. Homemade pasta takes centre stage with the tagliatelle and white crab meat dish and the tortiglioni with slow-cooked beef ragu, a deliciously simple pasta dish with capers, olives and chilli. Unpretentious, honest cooking at its best, welcome to Italian cooking in its purest form.