Scone Spy, restaurants and wine guide
Da Claudio, 388 Brandon St, Motherwell
Location
On one of the main streets in the Lanarkshire town.
First Impressions
On a rainy Wednesday, early evening, we didn’t foresee any problems in getting a table for two, but the restaurant was fully booked. However, the waiting staff were able to squeeze us in. It’s clearly gained a loyal customer base in its 28 years.
Service
Attentive and professional, while also down-to-earth.
Menu
There is an extensive range of meat and fish dishes, alongside pasta main courses. As well as traditional Italian dishes, there is a lot of originality shown in many of the options.
Taste
The starters were, in one of our party’s words, “amazing”. The funghi genovese is sauteed mushrooms with a tomato and onion sauce served with garlic bread and could happily have been eaten as a main course, as it was so tasty. The crostini da claudio was similarly successful. Toasted Italian bread topped with cannellini beans, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic and olive oil was a change from the usual bruschetta staple found on starter menus. The spaghetti verdure, broccoli, courgette, onion and tomatoes in an oil and garlic sauce, was a lovely, light dish, perfect for summer, while the penne funghi’s mushrooms were complemented by red onion and mixed peppers in a tomato sauce.
Ambience
The family-run eatery succeeds in creating a homely atmosphere.
Price
There is a £15.50 two-course early evening menu available, seven days a week, which is really great value.
Something special
There’s a separate vegan menu – more places should follow suit.
Toilets
Perfectly clean and comfortable. ● Da Claudio offers traditional Italian dishes with its own original twist