Pinocchio's, Canterbury

Pinocchio's is fast becoming one of my favourite restaurants in Canterbury, my nearest city. Mike and I popped in for lunch on Saturday and, as usual, it didn't disappoint.

It's an Italian restaurant in an unassuming building with simple, rustic décor and a glass-covered courtyard at the back that lets in lots of light. The owner, Massimo, and his staff are warm and attentive, and enthuse about the day's specials until your mouth is watering and you feel spoilt for choice without even having opened the menu.

 

We decided to start with some fragrant garlic bread, still warm from the oven, and a dish of olives.

The bread was seriously good. I could happily have ordered a bucket-load more of it and gorged myself on this alone, but that would have been a shame, because the pasta here is amazing and really shouldn't be missed.

We both ordered similar dishes for our main course. Mike went for monkfish and clams, while I chose a mixed seafood dish with monkfish, sea bass, scallops and king prawns. Both were cooked in a delicate cherry tomato and white wine sauce and served with fresh pasta, made on the premises.

Absolutely delicious.

I was much too full for pudding, but it would have been incredibly rude of me not to try the homemade cheesecake.

I have to confess, I was expecting the creamy type of dessert that I tend to associate with the word "cheesecake" and that's not what this is at all. Instead, it was somewhat crumbly and bitty in texture and although the flavour was pleasant enough, it was my least favourite course of the meal. There was nothing wrong with the dessert itself and Mike thoroughly enjoyed it. It was just, unfortunately, not to my taste. Massimo told us that it is made with ricotta cheese and is traditionally eaten at Easter time in Italy.

After a cup of peppermint tea (coffee for Mike) to settle our full stomachs, we enjoyed a leisurely drive home through the countryside and then got on with the very important business of lazing around for the rest of the afternoon.

Below is what I wore. As you can see, I kept it casual and about as simple as it gets.

 T-shirt - River Island, Jeans - Topshop Jamie (Can't find the exact wash, but these are very similar), Jacket - Warehouse (old), Boots - H&M (old), Sunglasses - Chanel (very old)

I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Kate x