Da Vinci Restaurant, Swindon (From This Is Wiltshire)

Da Vinci Restaurant, Swindon

9:54am Wednesday 22nd July 2009 in

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WALKING into Da Vinci restaurant was a real blast from the past.

The decor is modern and fresh but I couldn’t help being transported back to the late 1970s.

For I was greeted by the ever-charming Antonio D’Azzo who I first met all those years ago.

After several years in his native Sicily, the man whose name was associated with such venues as Mario’s Trattoria, Vadims, Pasha and Mondo Mondo, is back with a new endeavour.

Tony was quite possibly personally responsible for the “Ello, beeyutiful laydee” style of Italian restaurant service which has been a fixture in many Swindon eateries ever since.

And his enthusiasm for exuberant welcomes and attention to the ladies seem to have little diminished over the years.

I was expecting him to whip out a giant pepper grinder at any moment!

But after his meet and greet, he left us to the friendly and efficient service of his staff.

A complimentary pot of spicy olives soon appeared on the table and were great to nibble on while we made our choices. It’s little touches like this that make a restaurant stand out and attract a loyal clientele.

To begin with, instead of going for the starters which ranged from minestrone soup (£4.45) to the chef’s special for two to share, antipasto Da Vinci (£10.95), we chose some side orders to share.

Bruschetta al pomodoro (£2.95) had a sort of pizza base, topped with fresh chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, basil and oil - delicious and great value; insalata caprese was another good deal at £3.45 for a whole mozzarella ball served up with tomatoes, basil and oil.

For the mains, son Tom had the penne amatriciana (£7.95) pasta tubes with a thick, tasty tomato and red wine sauce with onion, basil and pancetta. I can vouch for how good it was as I ordered the same - with the addition of chilli. It was a nicely spicy dish.

Daughter Virginia had the grilled sea bass (£12.95) another tasty success.

Portions were generous and flavours hearty - don’t expect to get out without garlic breath!

The menu is extensive and includes all the favourites from garlic bread (£1.75) through pastas (£6.95 to £7.95), meat and fish dishes (£9.95 to £16.95 for tournedos Rossini) and pizzas (from £7.95 to £10.45) to desserts like tiramisu (£3.95).

There’s plenty to like at Da Vinci, good food and atmosphere, lunchtime specials with all pastas and pizzas at £4.95 - and don’t forget that warm Sicilian welcome!