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It may be part of a chain, but Zizzi has the kind of hearty menu, warm service and cosy surroundings that give it that extra special something.

In fact, it’s a restaurant to suit all occasions – from an after-work bite to eat with a friend to a family celebration – without breaking the bank.

My mum and I visited the Cardiff venue early on a Saturday evening before heading to a concert and, while it wasn’t packed, there was a lovely vibe.

Many of the diners had clearly called in post-shopping spree and others had decided on a meal as a prelude to an evening out.

The restaurant has been converted from a former bank and with high ceilings, giant pillars and wooden floors it has a real contemporary vibe.

We were shown to a quiet corner table and as we each sipped a glass of wine – one house red and one house white – we had the difficult task of choosing our dishes.

From calamari and goat’s cheese ciabatta to an Italian bread bucket, there is a wide selection of starters.

We eventually decided to share the Antipasti Zizzi – a platter including cured meats, cheeses, butternut squash and olives – as we felt it would be a good way of sampling an array of tasty treats.

Arriving on a long wooden board, it was really well presented and bursting with colour.

The prosciutto ham and salami were both fresh and the latter had a nice spicy kick to it, while the butternut squash, roasted peppers and sunblushed tomatoes were deliciously sweet, providing the perfect contrast.

The olives were juicy and the cheeses varied from a tasty grana padano to a mild and creamy mozzarella.

We couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to our meal.

If we thought choosing a starter had been difficult, we were completely bamboozled when it came to selecting a main dish each.

There’s a wide selection of salads, including a beetroot and ricotta dish; pasta options that feature everything from penne with king prawns to pasta tubes with torn chicken; pizzas including margherita and mushroom with mozzarella and thyme and extras such as spring greens and mixed salad.

Eventually I plumped for the goat’s cheese ravioli while my mum opted for the chicken breast.

My pasta parcels were packed with goat’s cheese and spinach and they were coated in a warm tomato sauce which was topped with pinenuts. The pasta was just right – neither too soft or too al dente – while the flavours from the cheese and tomato worked perfectly together. And, while it may have been packed with carbs, it was a surprisingly light dish.

The flattened chicken breast, which was beautifully tender, was wrapped in prosciutto ham and served with crunchy green beans and roasted chunky potatoes.

It was covered in a white wine sauce which gave the meal a lovely flavour and wasn’t too rich.

When it came to desserts, my mum, a small-eater, didn’t want a whole one but she was more than happy to share mine.

After being tempted by everything from pannacotta to tiramisu, I went for the chocolate melt.

It was possibly one of the best desserts I’ve ever had – and I don’t say that lightly.

A warm chocolate sponge, it’s filled with melted chocolate and served with vanilla ice cream.

There really are no words to describe it apart from to say it’s a chocoholic’s dream.

The great food, combined with friendly and efficient service, made this dining experience the perfect curtain raiser to our evening out.

THE BILL

Antipasti Zizzi – £6.95

Ravioli Di Capra – £9.15

Pollo Prosciutto – £12.95

Chocolate melt – £5.35

Small white wine – £4.05

Small red wine – £4.95

Total: £42.90

Zizzi, 27 High St, Cardiff, CF10 1PU

Tel: 029 2064 5110

www.zizzi.co.uk