It was the perfect night out. My partner and I had heard good things about an Italian restaurant in Sheepy Parva, and made a special journey out there to find out for ourselves.
It is not uncommon for restaurants not to live up to their reputation, but that is definitely not the case here. Everything we heard about San Giovanni is true - it is quite simply superb.
This was true of everything from the setting with its inspiring vistas to the internal decor which helps to both create and enhance an atmosphere conducive to a delightful dining experience, and from the dedicated, attentive staff to the cherry on the cake, the cuisine.
The food is beautifully presented and a delight for the tastebuds. The choice is immense and deciding what to have was a task in itself - albeit the most pleasant of tasks.
After much thought I opted for a starter of Gamberoni e capesante - pan fried prawns and scallops with a light thermidor sauce. The infusion of tastes explode in the mouth, enhanced by the best thermidor sauce I have had the pleasure to sample.
My tastebuds did virtual cartwheels with each bite"
So good was the starter, I had serious doubts over whether the main course could match it. But I need not have concerned myself. I had chosen Bistecca Diana, a pan fried sirloin steak with onions, mushrooms, cream and brandy sauce, served with sauté potatoes, bacon, onion and rosemary.
My tastebuds did virtual cartwheels with each bite. Sirloin steak can be ruined by over cooking, but here was the perfect way to present it - it fairly melted in the mouth. Each component of this meal added a layer to the overall composition, creating a show stopping performance. If there hadn't been the prospect of dessert I would have tracked down the chef and kissed him!
The choice of dessert was difficult as just about everything on offer appealed. In the end I opted for Trancio sacher, a Viennese chocolate sponge cake
filled with chocolate cream. Days later I close my eyes, relieve the taste experience and want to head over the Sheepy Parva again. Yes, it was literally that good.
My partner thankfully enjoyed a similar experience. As a non-meat eater I was concerned at first that the choice might be rather limited - but it was not the case. Whilst not as expansive as the main menu offerings for meat eaters, there was still a wide and worthy selection.
The starter was a Calamari Fritti, baby calamari dusted with flour, deep fried, served with mixed leaves and tartar sauce. It was cooked to perfection and my partner enthused throughout, declaring it was the best calamari ever.
The main course was similarly well received. It was Linguine scampi e gamberoni, a linguine pasta with langoustine, king prawns, garlic, chilli, tomato, and white wine sauce, served alongside mixed vegetables and rocket salad. It was rich, savoury and quite simply delicious.
For dessert my partner followed the same route as I and was equally as enthusiastic.
Finishing off with coffee, we agreed wholeheartedly that this was an evening to remember.
San Giovanni is a gem tucked away in the little idyll of Sheepy Parva. Would we recommend it to you? Do you really have to ask? For the record, we say an emphatic YES!
San Giovanni is at Mill Lane, Sheep Parva, CV9 3RL.
Tel 01827 881000. www.sangiovanni.co.uk
San Giovanni can cater for vegetarian needs and any special dietary requirement - simply ring ahead with your details and the chefs will accommodate reasonable requests.
Whilst there is not a specific children's menu, the team can adapt the main menu to cater for youngsters. There is a superb a la carte option in addition to the exquisite offerings on the menu. And Sunday lunch should not be missed either, accommodating traditional English and delightful Italian style cuisine. San Giovanni also stocks a large selection of wines to add that final touch to a quality dining experience.