By Hanna Fowler

Dark headlines appeared a few weeks ago: the world was running out of Prosecco. But rest assured, it appears it was all blown out of proportion. Brilliant news then, as I made my way to Old Hall Street’s Trattoria 51 to sample its new Prosecco menu.

Inside an impressive Victorian building in the commercial district, the Italian restaurant and bar is a firm favourite with the business community thanks to its authentic dishes, friendly staff and varied drinks menu.

The new Prosecco menu is especially devised for the warmer months in mind, offering a luxury twist to summer cocktails in true Italian style. The menu includes a range of sweet and refreshing blends including Apple Bellini, Cosmopolitan Prosecco, Strawberry Rossini, and a classic Bellini.

With over 17 cocktails available and all priced at £6.95, the Prosecco menu is great value for money and offers a different way to try the luxury Italian wine.

When my guest and I first arrived, we were greeted by a busy restaurant, with groups of all sizes enjoying the eatery’s Italian selection of fresh meats, pizzas and pastas.

Toni, the general manager, was the perfect host for the evening and talked about the restaurant and each cocktail with such passion. With Toni’s expert knowledge at hand, we asked him to choose our first cocktails for the evening.

Two impressive drinks arrived, a Limoncello and Mojito Prosecco. The Limoncello Prosecco was light, citrusy and a refreshing aperitif, while the Mojito – with rum, mint, lime and topped off with Prosecco was a contemporary take on the classic.

Next, I tried a classic Italian Bellini; made with peaches and finished with Prosecco and grenadine, this fruity drink will suit anyone with a sweet tooth! Likewise, the Raspberry Rossini, simply made from raspberry puree and Prosecco is a good choice if you just want a light cocktail before a meal.

At this point, Toni very kindly brought over a selection of starters. The food, alongside the expertly blended cocktails, did not disappoint. The authentically Italian dishes, which included the Italian bread board (£3.50), marinated olives (£2.75), fried calamari (£6.50) and Pate del Giorno – homemade chicken liver pate, served with toasted bread and mango (£4.95) were delicious dishes to share in-between sips of Prosecco.

Each starter was cooked to perfection, so it’s easy to see why Trattoria 51 is well loved for both food and drinks. My drinking partner and I have resolved to go back to try more of the menu, and to try the other half of the extensive Prosecco cocktail list.

To finish, we ordered the Italian Sunset – orange and cranberry juice topped with fizz, and the Amaretto Sour. The sparkling version of an amaretto sour was both sweet and tart, and the added bubbles gave it a luxury twist. The introduction of the Prosecco menu is a great addition to this already thriving bar and restaurant. Alongside its tasty menu and friendly staff, Trattoria 51 is ideal for after work drinks with colleagues or if you’re after relaxing cocktail after a busy day of shopping.

While the Ropewalks area is known for its trendy eateries, the commercial district has many high quality bars and restaurants which shouldn’t be ignored; Trattoria 51 is the perfect example.

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