Photography by Ian Laidlaw
Cosy, sincere, classic and romantic are all apt terms when describing Sonny’s Bottega, a Preston-based restaurant serving Italian cuisine of the highest order.
You step inside and wonder if you’ve just arrived in Sicily, with an interior of white brick walls and warm wooden panels.
Sonny’s Bottega offers a set menu consisting mainly of spuntino (or light dishes), with an extensive beer and wine selection, but there’s also a concise main menu available that offers different meals weekly. To produce a new set of high quality dishes every week takes serious ingenuity, and for that Sonny’s Bottega must be credited – because they are all of a high calibre.
The menu on this particular week featured a pasta bake with tomato and peas. Every corner of the mouth is indulged with this dish, as creamy sauce and fresh tomato seep through the lasagne sheets. Another favourite from the weekly selection was the insalata – a green bean salad with mint, almonds and a surprising punch of mustard. The tang from this salad gives an invigorating flavour.
Perhaps the highlight was the affettati misti con formaggi – an assortment of Italian cured meats and cheeses with olives. This mainstay on the venue’s menu is perfect for sharing and tasting alongside a glass of wine. Each slice of meat and cheese punctures the taste buds in different ways, giving the opportunity to experiment with different combinations and groupings. The delicate prosciutto mixed with the gorgonzola was a hit.
Sonny’s Bottega clearly takes pride in creating Italian cuisine that is traditional and resonates with definitive Italian tastes. These plates have a simple and classic feel to them, representing the true philosophy of Italian cuisine. Nothing needs to be overdone with fancy assortments and an abundance of the unnecessary. Italians – and particularly Sonny’s Bodega – need show nothing but simple, good quality food impassioned by love.
Each table features a deck of Italian playing cards. A captivating item that will surely spark conversation over dinner, these cards are characterised by different symbols and figures to the familiar English-style deck. Sonny’s Bottega also sticks with a 1950’s rock-n-roll soundtrack for ambience. Chuck Berry, Los Lobos and Jerry Lee Lewis all make an appearance, setting a lively mood.
For an intimate night out, where food, wine and close conversation is the focus, Sonny’s Bottega just may be the ideal location.