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I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmospher
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmospher
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I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmospher
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmosphere, variety available and quality of serve meant that you can make an evening at Crisp whatever you want it to be, from quick bite to lingering romantic night out.
I’ve always been accused of being middle-aged before my time. Perhaps it’s the collection of Sunday Times magazines on my bedside table, my preference of the pub over the club or the slippers; not novelty Disney, but Marks and Spencer’s ‘premium’, I strongly recommend them, though they need replacing every 8-10 months. Oh yes, and the moaning. Ironically one of the most poignant whinges is the inaccessibility to students of restaurants in the city centre (don’t I sound like riveting company). Thus when well established Italian restaurant Crisp came to me with the premonition that the student market was the way to go, I threw down my trowel and copy of Gardener’s World and went to have a look.
Crisp falls within the rather the saturated market of the contemporary Italian, however evens it prices for civilians are notably lower than that of rivals such as Pizza Express and Croma. It inhabits the more serene end of town, between St. Peter’s and Albert’s squares, staring up at the Town Hall from Princess Street. A glass front presents a lofty dining room, softly lit, simply designed in white and spotted with terracotta pillars. The obligatory open kitchen dominates the back wall; just in case you were worried they had got lazy and just used the local takeaway.
The menu ticks all the boxes for such an Italian, with the added bonus of a serious and well priced grill selection, tempting the diner with sirloin steaks and Asian influenced chicken dishes for under a tenner. A £14.95 three course special offers a wide spectrum of what is available. When the starters arrived it was quite clear that we were getting value for money. A tomato Bruschetta was optimistically heaped with a classic cherry tomato, red onion, and basil concoction, robustly seasoned. The calamari was freshly deep fried in a batter any chip shop would be proud of. Finally, Goat’s cheese was curiously combined with a mango chutney that off set the tartness of the cheese beautifully.
From a list of pastas that presents a mixture of favourites and more contemporary ideas we particularly enjoyed Farfalle Al Salmone, pink flakes of moist salmon predominated a creamy if slightly rich dish. A mushroom risotto had obviously been well cared for as the al dente grains of rice separated well, yet having absorbed all that the stock had to offer. Plump mussels in a well flavoured tomatoey Provencal provided a well constructed alternative to the carb loading that was currently in full swing. And the pizza’s, well when a Margarita kicks in at £3.95 you’re on to a winner. A Parma, was layered with smoky Parma ham, crisping slightly at the edges, although was a little stingy on the rocket. We finished off by forced down an indecently large slice of chocolate fudge cake, the sponge was a little sense, but such a rich dish can often get away with this. However the highlight was a ludicrously light Tiramisu.
The house wine was of a good quality, a warming red was on offer however, I was more impressed with a light medium-dry white. Two and a half hours later our work at Crisp was complete. The relaxed atmospher