Restaurant Review

La Famiglia

12 Stanley Street, Liverpool, L1 6AF

By Lawrence Saunders | Italian | ££ |

At the risk of sounding like a pompous so and so, I’ve visited Italy most summers since I was a child, but this year for one reason or another, I didn’t get to make my annual pilgrimage. So when I heard a traditional, family-run Italian was opening in the old Delifonseca on Stanley
Street, I was more than happy to head along.

Best pals Giuseppe Spinuso and Krzysztof Golebiowski are behind La Famiglia, which they opened this September after years working alongside each other in the restaurant business. Peppe and Krys, who hail from Italy and Poland respectively, first met at Manchester’s Piccolino, before linking up in Liverpool at Castle Street’s San Carlo.

The pair’s vision for La Famiglia, which means ‘The Family’ in Italian, was to create somewhere with a distinctly more authentic vibe than the aforementioned eateries. Sparsely decorated with charming trinkets shipped over from the beautiful island of Sardinia, it’s an intimate underground space which achieves its stated aim with style.

Not only did the décor have my wife and I reminiscing about Italian holidays of yesteryear, but even the waiting staff, dressed in simple white polo shirts, evoked visions of a classic Tuscan trattoria.

Anyway, the food. Antipasto di Terra (£10.95) to begin – a selection of cured meats, olives, cheeses and marinated vegetables smartly presented on a U-shaped slab of Sardinian cork.

Typically shared, but as my wife is five months pregnant with our first child she has a forbidden food list as long as Venice’s Grand Canal, so I was free to scoff the lot. Copious slices of mortadella, salami and prosciutto washed down with a large glass of Pinot Grigio (£5.20) – bellissimo!

For my partner it was Bruschetta Pomodoro (£4.95) – fresh tomato and basil on toasted garlic bread. Simple yet superb – La Famiglia on a plate.

Whilst we awaited our next course, Peppe and Krys took turns chatting with us and fellow diners. Their enthusiasm for the fledgling restaurant was contagious, so much so that even when Krys disclosed he was a Manchester United fan I still wished him the best for the business.

Time for mains and on Peppe’s advice I went for Paccheri alle Cozze (£10.95) – fresh homemade Paccheri pasta, mussels, cherry tomatoes, chilli and garlic in white wine.

A thick, tube-shaped pasta, Paccheri originates from the Campania region of Italy and in the past was considered pasta for the poor as the pieces are large and filling so appetites could be satisfied with a small quantity and for a low cost.

I don’t know about all that but I was certainly content. Cooked the way pasta should be, al dente, the chunky pasta absorbed the wonderfully rich sauce and paired perfectly with the shellfish. My wife aired on the safe side once again with her choice, Pollo Arrosto (£11.95) – roast chicken served with baby potatoes tossed in rosemary butter.

Although a classic second course in Italian cuisine, the dish could have maybe benefited from some kind of vegetable accoutrement. Despite this, the chicken was succulent, expertly seasoned, and the potatoes were full of flavour.

Time for dessert and whilst tempted by a gorgeous looking tiramisu on display in the chiller, we instead decided to spilt a trio of gelatos (£4.95) – a curious yet delightful combination of carrot and lemon, salted caramel and green apple scoops.

As is the custom, I was presented with a complementary glass of marvellously sweet Mirto Rosso to finish – a traditional Sardinian digestivo made from myrtle berries which I’m going to have to seek out for another try.

If you want a true taste of Italy in Liverpool, La Famiglia is a must visit

Visit our Instagram profile (@ym_liverpool) for more food photos.

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