Best Italian restaurants

Our Local Expert Says:

Jamie’s Italian offers a large menu full of delicious treats. Everything from the bread to the bakewell tart is to die for, which is why Bath residents keep going back.

Description:

Jamie Oliver is one of Britain's best-known celebrity chefs, and in 2008 he unveiled an Italian restaurant in Bath. Jamie's Italian was popular from day one and is definitely worthy of the queue that often forms outside its doors. The large restaurant serves high-quality Italian fare at reasonable prices, unlike most other celebrity restaurants. The atmosphere is relaxed yet charming, and families are made to feel very welcome. Jamie's Italian is situated in Milsom Place, a new leisure area situated off Bath's high street, and therefore is easy to get to. If you're nearby on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning be sure to drop in for brekky.

Description:

Start with garlic bread and move on to one of Pizza Express's speciality pizzas cooked in full view by nice blokes in prison outfits. At this point, it is worth mentioning that it is considered very poor form to taunt these hard working chaps about the state of their uniforms, although a polite word to the management wouldn't go astray. Whether your taste is for a traditional Fiorentina, the Caprina with sun-dried tomatoes and goat's cheese, or the American Hot Pizza, you can be sure your taste buds will dance. The environment is modern and stylish - a very lively evening atmosphere. If pizza doesn't take your fancy, try one of the other house specialities - lasagne or the less adventurous ham and eggs. Wash it all down with beer and cocktails or plump for the excellent value house wine.

Description:

If you're looking for a cheerful, unpretentious Italian eatery then this is the place. There's plenty of room here with the ground floor overlooking George Street, a huge cellar overlooking nothing at all, and a small terrace with views over the city. Service is brisk from staff who do speak Italian - as well as English - and booking is often necessary on busy evenings in midsummer. The menu lists the usual range expected of a trattoria or pizzeria and there is an extensive vegetarian menu. While the cooking is generally average, the real virtue is their seriously good pizzas, and not many people seem to know this, they are available for takeaway meals. Drinkable house wine and generally reasonable prices make this good value for parties plus pasta and pizza fans.

Description:

Ask-an addition to the three million (well it sometimes seems like that) restaurants in Bath. At first glance it seems to be a modern, neo-Conran eateries (stark, stone floor and spotlights) where delicately arranged dishes might be served to discerning diners at extortionate prices. Forget all that, it's pizza and pasta with pretensions and part of a national chain but if you like this clinically clean scene it is one of the best. There's a large entrance bar area, and plenty of well-spaced tables in an L-shaped arrangement. The menu features the usual Italian dishes, reasonably priced.

Description:

Il Tocco d'Italia Restaurant & Bar is proclaimed the most stylish restaurant of Bath and it is rightly said so. The chefs have a unique style of twisting the items on the menu in a creative manner and keep coming up with new and interesting dishes to offer almost every week. It has a capacity of accommodating 75 at a time and the wine list consists of all the major Italian brands. It also specializes in holding private parties and weddings.