This week's food review is on Florentina - a restaurant located in Portman Plaza that offers continental European cuisine of the Italian and French kind. What struck me first when I entered the restaurant was the feeling of Europe. The atmosphere was buzzing with people chatting, and the warm glows from the restaurant's interior décor gave it that cosy and intimate feeling. As soon as I sat down, I was offered water and the menu. That's a tick for good service!
I ordered from the special set lunch menu - a two-course meal for a reasonable 98RMB since I was in a rush.
I struck up a conversation with the restaurant owner and she sent me a pic of the lunch menu. You should take a look. For me, I ordered the salad for starter and gnocchi for main as a light lunch.
As I waited, I was delighted to be served a selection of freshly baked bread with olive oil like the restaurants in Italy. The focaccia had the aromatic smell of rosemary, the bread roll had that crunchy crust with a soft inside, and the breadstick was crisp. I knew they were freshly baked because of the steam and refreshing smell once I broke bread. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar mix were fruity and pungent, which really complemented the bread.
The ‘Florentina’ special salad was full of refreshing textures. It was made up of a mixed salad, nuts and tomatoes. The dressing blended together well the different sweet and savoury flavours.
The gnocchi was amazing! I knew things would be good when the plate was hot. These delicious, handmade morsels were so flavoursome and succulent, I devoured them. The nuts in the dish contrasted well with the soft and smooth potato gnocchi. The parmesan sauce was creamy and full of flavour. The freshness of the watercress balanced the dish's savoury richness.
In summary, I had a great food experience at Florentina and I shall return! The service was attentive and caring. The food was of very high quality and the ingredients were fresh. So if you're looking for classical Italian/French cuisine, then I highly recommend Florentina.If you're a Mulaner (download Mulan app & register or share this article on your moments), you can change your drink to a beer at no extra cost!So with such an affordable lunch menu, you should go and dine there.
Info
Address: 1-5 Portman Street, Jiangdong District, Ningbo (Opposite Starbucks).
Business Hours: Lunch 11:30 – 16:30, Dinner 17:30 – 22:00
Tel: 0574-89118378
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