La Dolce Vita, Bradford on Avon

Italian-Montenegran Perparim Zagan, known as Papi, has bought the restaurant formerly known as Rialto, in St Margaret's Street, and reopened it as La Dolce Vita last month.

Along with his two other chefs he specialises in traditional Italian cuisine, particularly from his homeland of Sardinia, served up alongside Spanish and Greek dishes. He fine-tuned his skills at the Roma and Barcelona restaurants in Bristol before deciding to bring his talents to west Wiltshire.

Papi's cousin and restaurant manager Adim Elezi, said: "He was working in Bristol for seven years as a chef for someone else.

"He like the area, liked Bradford on Avon and the people, he found it very friendly, so he decided to move."

House specials include fillet of lamb with garlic and rosemary sauce, veal stuffed with Parma ham, mozzarella and the chef's special tomato sauce and salmon with prawns, asparagus and a rosé wine sauce.

Papi also cooks traditional meat, fish or mixed paellas.

Desserts include Amaretto cake, profiteroles, tiramisu and strawberry cheesecake.

They have an extensive lunch menu with pizza, pasta, paninis, wraps and jacket potatoes.

For the less adventurous, traditional English roasts are available on Sundays at £6.95 for two courses.

The restaurant is based in a listed Georgian building in the heart of Bradford on Avon and it was the beautiful setting that lured Papi to the town.

His cousin said: "He loves old buildings and it is a beautiful place.

"We have only changed a few things since we took over. We have just changed the table layout and tablecloths.

"We have regular customers already - we have pleased 99 per cent when they come in, we are working on the other one per cent."

FACT FILE:

• La Dolce Vita, St Margaret's Street, Bradford on Avon. Tel: (01225) 862123
• In a listed Georgian building
• Open 11am-10.30pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-11pm Friday and Saturday.

• Lunchtime special: any pizza or pasta dish just £4.25 from Monday-Saturday