The Spaghetti Tree empire dates back to 1985, when Luigi Romano opened a small, trattoria-style restaurant in Sutton. In 2004 Maria and Lorenzo, his eldest son and daughter, opened Spaghetti Tree in Walton on the Hill, and today Maria and her younger brother Danny own and run both restaurants. The larger of the two restaurants, Spaghetti Tree Walton on the Hill has a smart contemporary feel, with well-spaced, uncluttered tables, gleaming tiled floors and a stylish mural of actress Sophia Loren. I began with fishcakes, recommended by restaurant manager Danny Romano - they were sweet and crunchy, with red and green peppers giving a subtle, satisfying kick, and served with a dollop of cool creme fraiche. My companion chose stuffed mushrooms topped with bacon, crabmeat and Cheddar cheese, accompanied by delicious, tomatoey bread and garnished with basil - a delicious combination of cleverly balanced fresh ingredients. The owners pride themselves on using only the very best produce, and my main course of risotto with chicken, cream, asparagus and mushrooms was proof enough of this, boasting a wonderful, nutty flavour and proving incredibly moreish. My guest raved about her veal Milanese, delicately flavoured with a little lemon juice and served with spaghetti and a rich ragu. To finish things off, my guest chose a classic semifreddo, comprising soft hazelnut ice cream topped with crushed amaretti biscuits and chocolate sauce, while I plumped for a velvety smooth pannacotta. With absolutely no frills or unnecessary embellishments, it was the best version of the dessert I had ever tasted. We tried the easy-drinking house red from a wine list packed with Italian choices. Peroni beer is also served, as well as a number of Italian liqueurs - try the unusual Amaro Averna, made from artichokes. Whether you're satisfying a craving for traditional Italian food, or after something you haven't tried before, Spaghetti Tree gets it right every time. Spaghetti Tree has won a gold PAPA award in the past, and was a finalist in the Best Genuine Italian Restaurant awards held at the Royal Lancaster in November 2010. This award-winning restaurant is really worth a visit - molto bene.
