Ristorante Bollicini  

Rufus Court

Chester

CH1 2HJ

Planning a night out in Chester I was faced with a mind-boggling array of restaurant choices. I needed something great tasting and within my budget.

But I also wanted to start my evening somewhere that felt cool and contemporary. Ristorante Bollicini hit the mark.

Despite opening 19 years ago, Bollicini remains Chester's hidden secret - a restaurant the locals keep to themselves. Upon visiting you can see why.

Busy but not packed, it was intimate enough to have good conversation and lively enough that you had to raise your voice a little, the vibe was great.

With clean, classy decor that wouldn't look out of place in a VIP bar, the setting was great. So would the food live up to the atmosphere?

When we visited Bollicini was running a Friday offer - two courses and a bottle of wine for £25 - which seemed too good to pass up.

There are three house wine options in the usual colours. I opted for the red, a Ca'del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon which was deliciously fruity without being too sweet.

For starter I chose the Arancini Di Riso Con Salsa Al Pomodoro - arancini balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas served in a tomato sauce. Presented in a small pan, the arancini balls were cooked to perfection and just enough to satisfy without ruining your appetite for the main course.

Arancini Di Riso Con Salsa Al PomodoroArancini Di Riso Con Salsa Al Pomodoro (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

That main course was, for me, Fusilli Al Pesto E Pollo - creamy chicken pesto pasta.

Now not everyone is a big fan of garlic. I however, love it. This dish was seasoned with a healthy helping of garlic, just enough to bring out the flavours of the sauce and the chicken. 

Fusilli Al Pesto E PolloFusilli Al Pesto E Pollo (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

A creamy dish at the start of the evening may be seen as risky, but Bollicini's chef has produced a light pesto sauce that tastes great, fills you up but doesn't stop you enjoying a few drinks later on if you want to.

With great food, a buzzing atmosphere and staff who couldn't do enough to help, our meal at Bollicini was the perfect start to a great summer evening.