Savouring the Flavours of an Italian Summer at Riva Blu, Leeds

Authentic Southern Italian restaurant chain Riva Blu unveiled its summer menu at the end of May, featuring appetising new additions, including a selection of street food dishes, designed to be shared.

Part of Individual Restaurant Group, Riva Blu has four restaurants across the UK in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester, with a fifth venue opening in Hull soon. I was kindly invited to the Leeds restaurant to try some new offerings and headed over with my husband last week.

This wasn’t my first visit to Riva Blu, Leeds. My husband and I enjoyed a meal at the city centre restaurant last year – an overall positive experience. However, I did feel my choices were somewhat limited.

This time, my grossly inconvenient tomato intolerance didn’t restrict me to just one or two options, as it often, and understandably, does at Italian restaurants.

The antipasti section of the menu is excellent this season, with traditional options like Bruschetta Classica and Carpaccio listed alongside new seasonal delights such as Panzerote Formaggio – potato and parmesan croquette with Pecorino Romano and garlic aioli.

My husband chose the Buratta in Cestino – Apulian mozzarella with fried aubergine, tomato salsa, and basil pesto, served in a garlic pizza dough bowl. It was an unexpected choice considering Mr Wilson-Barrett isn’t as much of a cheese lover as I am, but he thoroughly enjoyed the combination of flavours and said everything tasted remarkably fresh.

I was tempted to order the Arancini as I remembered it being utterly delicious last year, but instead, I opted for the brand new Frittatina Carbonara. I’ve been making a conscious effort to limit my carb intake recently, so although eager to devour some pasta after weeks without it, I expected to find it a little heavy.

I was pleasantly surprised when I cut into the crisp breadcrumb coating and revealed a combination of silky sauce, generous chunks of guanciale, and just the right amount of pasta. Considerably different from the stodge I’d anticipated. It ticked every box regarding flavour and texture. Beautiful!

For his main, Mr Wilson-Barrett ordered one of Riva Blu’s new Neapolitan ‘Biacata’ sandwiches from the Street Food menu. These new lunchtime offerings comprise the restaurant’s biga dough, which is folded then stuffed with classic fillings and baked in the oven.

Of the eight tasty-sounding options, the ‘Porchetta’ appealed to him the most – roasted pork belly, cooked ham, smoked provola, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, and burrata cream. They were super generous with the fillings, so the ratio of meat and cheese to pizza dough was excellent. These are served with fries too, so you get plenty for your money!

I wanted something much lighter for my main course, so I opted for the Sea Bass, which has to be one of the tastiest fish dishes I’ve had for some time. Both fillets had been pan-fried to perfection, so that the skin possessed the optimal crispness, and the accompanying courgette puree complemented them beautifully.

Riva Spritz – this Limoncello & Prosecco combo was gorgeous alongside my Sea Bass main

I requested a side of garlic & rosemary roast potatoes to enjoy alongside, but as lovely as they were, I didn’t need them as my main also featured a handful of courgette crisps, which provided the crunchy texture I desired. A simple yet stunning dish, perfect for summer!

Dessert was our favourite course the last time we visited, so we had high expectations on this occasion. Mr Wilson-Barrett chose one of Riva Blu’s classics – Tortino al Cioccolato. The chocolate fondant was wonderfully rich, although the centre wasn’t quite as gooey as he would have liked. Delicious nonetheless.

Alongside the classic Tiramisu, they’ve introduced a pistachio version which, if last summer’s lemon version is anything to go by, will most likely taste divine! There’s also a Panna Cotta with fresh strawberries, perfect for the summer. I had high expectations for my final course but decision-making isn’t my strong point.

I asked our lovely waitress for her recommendation and ordered the new Semifreddo. This was an absolute pleasure to consume, and every spoonful was savoured! The chocolate and amaretto iced parfait was accompanied by crunchy morsels of hazelnut brittle, and the Amarena cherries prevented the dish from being too sweet.

Final Thoughts

Riva Blu’s summer menu truly encapsulates the essence of Southern Italian cuisine, offering a delightful blend of traditional and innovative dishes. The quality of the ingredients and the care taken in preparation are evident in every bite. Whether you have dietary restrictions (coeliacs are particularly well catered for!) or simply want to indulge in a variety of Italian delights, Riva Blu provides a memorable dining experience. We left the restaurant feeling thoroughly satisfied and excited for our next visit. If you find yourself near one of their locations, especially the soon-to-open Hull branch, I highly recommend stopping by to enjoy a taste of Italy this summer.

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