Little Italy: Holburn Street, Aberdeen

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PARTY crowds come to Aberdeen’s fun-loving Italian restaurant for a good knees up – including table-top dancing.

But Little Italy is much more than a boogie venue.

We headed there on an evening at the start of the week to try out the restaurant minus the weekend hordes.

And the eatery came out head held high solely on the basis of its fine food and cracking combo of flavours.

We were invited into the unmistakably Italian interior of the large dining room bedecked from floor to ceiling in movie and motor memorabilia.

My boyfriend and I were ushered to a little corner seat to peruse the packed menu which takes diners from light salads and traditional pizza and pasta to meaty chicken, beef and pork dishes.

I was torn between a seafood starter and the house salad and finally pipped for the insalata della casa (£5.95).

Fresh sprigs of rocket lined my plate layered with ruby cherry tomatoes, avocado slices and shiny black olives. Shreds of salty grana padano cheese topped the salad making a perfect light and tasty starter.

My dining partner opted for the pate della casa (£4.50). A pot of deliciously smooth chicken pate was served with lightly toasted crusty bread and salad.

Then the mains arrived in a whirl of aromas.

I chose the luxurious ravioli al termidor (£12.95). Tender discs of pasta stuffed with melt-in-the-mouth lobster was lathered in a creamy tomato sauce and topped with juicy prawns.

The shellfish was a little burnt but this gave the dish a delicious smoky flavour.

My boyfriend had the pollo favorita (£13.95). This was a supreme of chicken breast layered with smoked salmon and prawns, bound in a delicate cheese sauce and served with crispy sautéed potatoes.

It seemed an unusual combination but the poultry and seafood really complemented each other and the plate was quickly cleared.

I went straight to the coffee until my dining partner’s cassata Siciliana (£3.95) – ice cream cake – arrived and my teaspoon accidentally dipped in. The heavenly almond-flavour ice cream was shot through with cherries and chocolate.

With drinks and coffee the whole meal cost just over £50.

Stiletto marks were evident on our table top – but the only dancing we took part in was our slow waltz home with very satisfied full tums.