Pranzo has recently opened its third Yorkshire restaurant in Horsforth, to join the established Harrogate and Ilkley restaurants. Although the Italian name Pranzo translates as Lunch, Pranzo is open for evening dining too, as my partner and I discovered on a recent visit.
Situated in what was previously a bank on Town Street, Pranzo sits on a busy high street where the diner is spoilt for choice with French, Mexican and British dining options as well as another Italian themed restaurant vying for attention.
Fresh pasta made on the premises at Pranzo
The speciality at Pranzo is the homemade pasta which is made daily alongside the bread, sauces and desserts. The menu takes inspiration from the owner, Marco Greco’s home in southern Italy – photographs of his family adorn the walls of the restaurant, providing a personal touch.
There is also a seasonal specials menu that includes meat dishes such as ribeye steak and Chicken Milanese alongside roast monkfish and the traditional pan fried gnocci. If you were looking to have a pizza, Pranzo won’t be the place for you, as it’s not on the menu, but anyone who appreciates food from the Calabria region of southern Italy will not be disappointed.
One dish in particular is unique to Pranzo – paccheri with homemade spicy nduja and fennel sausage, spinach, cream and parmesan. The pasta in all dishes is served al dente (firm to the bite) though you can request that it be cooked for longer.
Uniquely styled dishes with garlic and cheese
For my starter I chose the Pranzo garlic bread topped with mozzarella and parmesan. I was expecting the bread to come flat as is normally the case. Surprisingly the starter arrived as three small loaves – enough for sharing. Soft and gooey, topped with just enough cheese to satisfy without disguising the taste of the garlic, this ingenious serving did not disappoint.
My partner chose the heritage beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with toasted walnuts and a sun-dried tomato dressing. The sharp and distinctive taste of the goat’s cheese must have been good – my partner devoured the whole salad, which is virtually unheard of. Fortunately I was offered a taste of this tempting dish.
My Pranzo lasagne with four-hour ragu, topped with mozzarella and parmesan was served piping hot, as if the Calabrian sun had shone its rays upon the dish. I always find it is hard to get lasagne wrong, though in those case it was the renowned Pranzo pasta which really complemented the dish: cooked not too hard, it seemed to melt in the mouth. If I had closed my eyes I could have been back at one of my favourite restaurants in Napoli.
My partner decided upon the roast monkfish wrapped in Parma ham, with potato and chive roast, truffle cannellini, beans and buttered spring greens. The overall verdict was that although the fish was good, the potato was a little too soggy due to the beans and accompanying juice.
Pranzo’s divine desserts
If you have been to Italy you will know that Italians adore chocolate. They even have chocolate tart for breakfast, much to my delight. Naturally Pranzo has a warm chocolate and Nutella brownie topped with pistachio ice cream for dessert. This was very sticky with a robust taste that was as guilty as those Italian drivers in the south of the country who are averse to a red traffic light!
My pistachio cheesecake encased in amaretti biscuit base came with a mild, sweet and nutty taste. Again, they do things differently at Pranzo. Rather than being served in the familiar flat, cake-like form, this cheesecake comes in a glass – a stylish way to present an Italian favourite.
Observing other tables, I noticed that every plate that was taken away was empty as everyone had enjoyed their meal – always a good sign. The service was friendly, attentive yet not obtrusive.
By the time we departed the restaurant every table was full. As the staff wished us “Buona notte” (good night) we replied “Arrivederci!” (see you soon), as we knew it would not be long before we returned to Pranzo.
Pranzo garlic bread (£7.95), heritage beetroot and goats cheese salad (£9.50), Pranzo lasagne (£16.95), roast monkfish (£26.95), warm chocolate and Nutella brownie (£8.95), pistachio cheesecake (£10.95).
