Reviewed by Ann Molyneux - May 2006

Guiseppe has been involved with The Pizza House for 26 years, and has worked as a chef, a waiter and managed it for his brother before taking over as owner 11 years ago. He still likes to keep his hand in, waiting tables and occasionally cooking.

Before the Fasulos took over, the building was a coffee shop, known as Dave’s Cafe.

Although the restaurant started out serving pizzas and just three pasta dishes, spaghetti, lasagne and cannelloni, the menu has increased in recent years.

There are now 20 pizzas available, from the basic Margherita, priced at £6, to the Pizza House Special with mushrooms, ham, peppers, salami, olives and anchovies, priced at £7.20. The 16 pasta dishes include spaghetti marinara, cooked with prawns and anchovies, costing £6, linguine al polpette, meat balls in a rich neapolitan sauce, priced at £5.80 and penne al prosciuto, pasta tubes with ham and mushrooms in a creamy sauce.

“The dough is fresh, made every morning and the sauces are made the traditional way my mum used to make it and are made to her recipes,” said Guiseppe.

“I have watched my mum make the sauces and picked it up.

“The food is freshly made as you order and I think that makes a difference.”

There are also steaks, salads and side orders, including French fries and garlic bread.

When my boyfriend and I visited, the restaurant was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night.

Among the starters are soup of the day, priced at £2, garlic bread, priced at £2.50, and affettato misto, a selection of cured meats with olives and tomatoes, priced at £6.50.

I chose a prawn cocktail, priced at £3, which had a delicious sauce, and my boyfriend picked the salami salad, costing £3.75, sprinkled with a generous quantity of olives.

For the main course, he ordered the calzone, priced at £6.90, a pizza folded in half and stuffed full of mozzarella, tomato, ham, peppers and salami.

Unfortunately, it was too much for him to manage in one go, but he took the rest home in a pizza box and ate it for lunch the next day.

I tucked into tagliatelle al salmone, priced at £6.20.

I was a little disappointed that I was offered coffee but no dessert menu and finished my meal with a cappucino.

I discovered later that cheesecake, Black Forest gateau and profiteroles are available. But when I pointed it out to him, Guiseppe promised me that there would be a sweet menu in the next couple of weeks and a range of ice cream in the near future.

With two Budweisers and a glass of red wine, our bill came to a very reasonable £28.

This restaurant is great if you want a quick bite to eat in a place with a friendly atmosphere and attentive service

3*

Facts:
The Pizza House, Cowgate, Peterborough
Telephone: 01733 567929 Website: www.pizza-house.co.uk
Open every day, between noon and 3pm, and 6pm and midnight

Menu examples:

Starters
Soup of the day, served with crusty bread – £2
Garlic mushrooms – £3
Insalte caprase, slices of tomato and mozarella cheese, with olive oil, oregano and basil dressing – £4.50
Affettato Misto – selection of cured meats – 6.50

Main courses:
PastaCannelloni All Forno, large pasta tubes with beef and cheese, baked in a rich tomato sauce – £6
Tagliatelle al funghi, pasta strips with chicken and mushroom, in a cream sauce – £6

Pizza
Prosciuto, mozzarella miz, tomato, ham – £6.40
Chilli prawn, mozarella mix, tomato, prawns, chilli sauce – £6.90
Meat dishes
Steak diavola, 12oz sirloin steak with peppers, mushrooms and onions – £13

* Details correct at 02/06/06

05 June 2006