La Rosa, Wellington

Reviewer's rating: **** CATHY STANWORTH has a memorable evening that left her smiling - and feeling slightly smug.

When a new Italian restaurant opened in Wellington in the summer of 2008 it received a warm welcome from locals desperate for somewhere a little different to dine out on their doorstep.

Now, more than a year on, it was time to see if it was still as popular. And the overriding answer is a big, fat yes.

My friend and I visited on a packed Friday night, having booked a table in advance.

Arriving a little early for our 8.30pm slot we were invited to sit in the waiting area while we checked out the menu, over a glass of wine.

I liked the look of the place and also the fact that it was packed, meaning plenty of atmosphere. Diners ranged from romantic tables for two, to family groups and a large party celebrating an 18th birthday.

It was one of those rare evenings when every single dish I chose was amazing, while my friend's were a bit hit and miss. There was nothing wrong with them, but he could, perhaps, have made better choices.

This, of course, meant that I could sit there as smug as the cat who'd gotten the cream.

The restaurant does a dish called the La Rosa special (£6.50), which you can choose as a starter or main course. A mixture of seafood in a specially prepared sauce, I was going to have it for main course before our waitress advised us that this dish was like a soup.

This gave me the excuse, and I only needed a tiny one, to swiftly jump ship to the specials board, plumping for venison with blueberry sauce (£18).

My friend went for the risotto pescatora, with tiger prawns, mussels, clams and squid cooked in rice (£9.95) with chips.

As I quite fancied a portion of patate al forno (herby oven-baked potato cubes, £2.25), which weren't included in my dish, our waitress kindly swapped my friend's chips with my order, so we didn't have to pay extra for one of the potato-based sides.

For starters, my friend decided to go for the La Rosa special, while I ordered salmone affumicato in letto di rucola concrostini di pane – 'smoked salmon served with freshly toasted bread and rocket salad' to you and me (£5.50).

We were impressed with our waitress. She described each specials board dish to us in great length, something that I haven't experienced for

years. Another big tick.

I was delighted with my starter. It was a good-sized portion of fresh green rocket salad with ample slices of thin smoked salmon on top, drizzled with an absolutely gorgeous and 100 per cent satisfying dressing. This dish was so simple, yet so very good.

My friend tucked into his special, which he really enjoyed. I noticed the sauce was very red, with a texture similar to tomato puree. And again there was enough fish to satisfy.

Then came the mains. Oh was I in for a treat. What was laid down before me was about five smallish, but more than ample, slices of some of the most delicious venison I have ever had, in a wonderful light and delicately flavoured blueberry sauce.

I wouldn't say that this was a cheap dish, and you'd have to order vegetables separately at £2.95 if you wanted them, but, together with my herby potatoes, it was an amount that definitely satisfied me.

The meat was effortless to cut and very tasty and tender, hence my friend having to put up with more smug smiles from me.

Although there was nothing wrong with my friend's dish, and he ate it all, it just wasn't quite right for him. He said it wasn't really what he expected and would have preferred something else, with more sauce.

Then of course it was time for the puddings. Usually I am too full from my starter and main to really do a pudding justice, but that wasn't the case here. Although La Rosa only has five puddings on offer, this is more than enough.

I had a creme caramel – a rich custard caramel, topped with chocolate sauce (£3.25). It was absolutely lovely and light, slightly chilled, very, very tasty and beautifully presented with strips of melted chocolate crossing it. This is now one of my favourite puddings.

My friend was very positive on ordering his crêpe gillatie – a wrapped pancake with chocolate Nutella, sprinkled with fresh nuts and dressed with chocolate and ice cream (£3.25).

He said it was good, but that there was just too much Nutella for his taste, making it very sweet.

We finished off our meal with a decent cup of coffee that came with a mint.

It looks like standards at La Rosa are continuing to bloom.

MENU SAMPLE

STARTERS

Homemade soup of the day

(£3.95); bread served with garlicflavoured

olive oil (£1.95)

MAIN COURSES

Chicken breast with creamed white wine and lemon, and vegetables or chips (£11.95)

Trout with fresh seasonal vegetables or salad (£9.95)

SIDES

Green leaf salad (£2.95)

olives (£1.95)

DESSERTS

Tiramisu (£3.75)

Icecream(£3.25)

ATMOSPHERE

Bustling

SERVICE

Friendly, efficient, and full of enthusiasm

DISABLED FACILITIES

Ramp into venue, but toilets down a flight of steps

Contact

La Rosa, 19 Church Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1DD

Tel: 01952 254666.