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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
7:31 PM 1st July 2019
lifestyle

Pollino Restaurant And Bar, Halifax

 
Looking out to the rolling southern Pennine hills from the elevated position of the Pollino restaurant in Halifax you wonder why go to Tuscany when you have views as breathtaking as this on your doorstep in Yorkshire.

I have eaten in Italian restaurants from Turin to Taranto over the years and found that the recently opened Pollino restaurant in Halifax serves food just as good as the views that you sample when dining at this stylish restaurant.

Outside seating area
Outside seating area
If the weather is good there is also an outside seating area.

I visited on an early Thursday evening and the place was already half full. Clearly my other fellow diners already knew how good Pollino was. It is a buzzing place with a good atmosphere. True to any restaurant you would visit in Italy, it was noisy though there are quiet corners where it is not as noisy.

They seemed to have a lot of staff serving. Mind you when you are this busy it probably explains the prompt serve and knowledgeable staff who know the menu from back to front.

Olives and water are brought to the table straight away, always a good sign that the service is going to be good.

As well as the standard menu they have a board with daily dishes such as Tuna Tartare as a starter or as a main Ravilos de Lobster for £16.95.

Caprino - Goats Cheese
Caprino - Goats Cheese
I was going to have the garlic bread as a starter but my server thought if I was going to have pizza as my main, it might be too much bread, so suggested the Caprino - warm goats cheese, Parmesan and honey, wrapped in walnuts and toasted sesame seeds, served with caramelised onion, rocket and toasted bread.

A strong robust taste that you always get with goats cheese didn't disappoint.

Pizza Picante
Pizza Picante
There are at least 8 different pizzas on offer. I chose the Piccante pizza - tomato, mozzarella, spicy sausage, red peppers and fresh Chilli. It lived up to my expectations. Priced at £10.45 it seemed reasonably priced too. A perfect pizza eaten looking out over a perfect view, the sun is shining (for once this summer) and it is hard to believe that this is actually Halifax.

All deserts are made in house. As well as the usual suspects such as Panna Cotta and Tiramisu the Italian Cheesecake caught my eye. Served with Black Forest Couli, the sweetness of the Couli complimented the sharpness of the Cheesecake.

Black Forest cheesecake
Black Forest cheesecake
A deep dark robust coffee ended an experience that had been a joy from start to finish.

As I left the car park was now completely full and there was a queue of diners waiting at the main door. I asked the manager if they were always this busy on a Thursday night. "People like the food and the atmosphere" he replied. I couldn't agree more.

Pollino, Warley Road, Halifax HX1 3SU
Telephone 01422 354440
https://pollino.co.uk/

The view of the south Pennines from the restaurant
The view of the south Pennines from the restaurant