Italian gem proves a delicious discovery in Chichester

Food review Cider House Ristorante

Crouchers Orchards, Birdham Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7EH

During lockdown we became so acclimatised to a supermarket pizza warmed in the oven that authentic Italian cuisine became a distant memory.

But a small, beautifully formed establishment just south of Chichester called Cider House Ristorante is determined to transport customers back to the real thing.

This is Italian food just as it should be.

Pizzas thin and packed with topping in a style as artistic as it is delicious.

The pastas are packed with flavour.

We visited the barn-style building which sits on the Crouchers Orchards Estate.

The decor was as rustic as it was welcoming. Nick, our waiter, was a terrific host. He guided us through the menu with the accomplished ease of a tour guide revealing the hidden wonders of Venice.

He shrugged disarmingly at the suggestion of a cold white wine with the main, nudging me toward a rather fine but good value Italian red.

When my wife said she couldn’t manage a dessert he seemed genuinely disappointed.

In Italy, no-one leaves hungry and he was determined that nor should we.

We moved from a shared platter of starters to a ham and mushroom pizza and for me a salmon pappardelle.

In many chains they will come to the table and smothered the food in a blizzard of black pepper and a tsunami of chilli sauce before you have tasted the first mouthful.

Nick assured us that these dishes were lavishly seasoned in the kitchen and we shouldn’t be hasty in asking for more.

He was right.

This was a review evening. We were invited as the restaurant’s guests as part of our #supportlocal campaign.

But we were not disappointed.

The hygiene rules were meticulously observed – but they could not stifle the relaxed ambiance or the sense of rustic delight.

The prices were all decent. The starters ranged from £5.50 for bruschetta to £8 for the sardines. For mains, the pasta dishes came in between £11 and £13.50, while the pizza started at £9.50.

There were a number of chef’s creations and a great specials board.

And despite the protestations of my partner, we managed more than a mouthful of the shared Tiramisu (£6.50).

The prosecco was £6 a glass and most of the wines began circa £5.

For the quality, the welcome and the blessed relief of a taste of normality it was a bargain.

There was no advertising attached to our review. Just an honest chance to give a great local business a welldeserved pat on the back with no strings attached.

We will be back. These establishments have never needed nor deserved our custom more.