Although the Arora International Hotel in Crawley may not be the first place that springs to mind when one thinks of Italian cuisine, it is home to the fabulous Gallucci – a restaurant that serves delicious authentic Italian food with a contemporary twist. Chef Omero Gallucci began cooking in his mother’s kitchen in Italy when he was just four years old and takes the inspiration for his dishes from these formative years. Simplicity is key, and using few, but choice, ingredients of the finest quality is the philosophy behind his food. The decor too adheres to this uncomplicated ideal; the space is amply sized and uncluttered, creating an altogether relaxed ambience. This mood of serenity is further enhanced by the gentle background music and the soft murmur of conversation.

With all the ingredients sourced either locally or from Italy, expect only the fullest flavours and quality foods. The menu is seasonal and, from the springtime selection, you’ll find starters like forest mushrooms tossed in hot truffle oil on baby spinach and roasted fennel with shaved Parmesan. You can mop up any of the remaining oil with a crusty morsel from the selection of breads. Main courses in the springtime include a peppery pan-fried fillet of sea bass on sautéed potato dumplings coated in tomato and dill ragu. But for a touch of the spectacular, order spaghetti alla forma di Parmigiano Reggiano; available all year round, this dish is prepared at the table and involves tossing the spaghetti in a hollowed out Parmesan wheel. But perhaps most noteworthy are the mouth-watering desserts – creamy vanilla risotto with fresh strawberry compote, and lemon cream served with crispy pasta ‘handkerchief’ are just two examples guaranteed to get your tastebuds salivating. The selection of cheeses on offer, featuring anything from blue-veined soft dolcelatte to sharp and tangy pecorino Romano, is equally enticing and comes with lavender honey, dried fruits, nuts and artisan breads. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, dining here should be more a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.