Travel Book Logs

Every once in a while you walk into a restaurant that gets it right. The food is good, the ambience makes you feel good and you walk away knowing that you will be back again. Thats how I felt when I was at Little Italy in Hyderabad the first time and I’ve been there again a few times since. Little Italy delivers a solid menu that is sensible, full of good choices and is consistent with their quality.

The menu is completely vegetarian so meat eating aficionados beware. Truth is you hardly miss the option. Most italiano places are vegetarian with the exception of a few dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese and pizza. But the salads and pastas at Little Italy set the pace for some great cuisine. The salads are crunchy and served in generous portions. Salad dressings are the real deal – freshly prepared and full of flavor that adds to the salad crunch. I recommend the Corleone or the Insalata de Rucola. Fresh lettuce and sun dried tomatoes with olive oil & balsamic vinegar dressing on the Corleone salad offer a glimpse of the famous Sicilian town with the same name. For those interested in a starter, I recommend the Melazane Arrosto – roasted aubergines served with olive oil and chopped garlic.

My first course recommendation for those who like a little spice is the Penne Pasta with Arrabiatta sauce, a tomato based sauce with chillies, garlic and parsley. The Bolognese sauce catches my attention because interestingly the Bolognese sauce here is made with soya mince – something best left alone for those who have a taste for the real thing. For vegetarians this seems to be a great option. If you are one please let me know what you think. There is also a wide variety of authentic wood burn pizzas which I have not had a chance to try out as yet. Keep in mind that authentic Italian pizzas are quite different from American style pizzas that most are familiar with. Italian pizza is closer to a nan style bread with simple toppings on a layer of cheese or tomato sauce.

My second course recommendation would be the Crespelle – a burrito style dish served with a mushroom and cheese filling. Very nice and warm dish that has a homely touch.

Eating at Little Italy is recommended with a group of very talkative people if you can manage that. There is something about Italy and Italian food that lends to lively conversation. Little Italy also serves a nice variety of TexMex food that seems to blend in well with the rest of the menu. Nachos served with cheese or refried beans is a nice snack to go along with beer and conversation. I was very happy to see some interesting mocktails on the drinks menu including a few healthy ingredients like beetroot and mint. Hard to find that on a drinks menu.

This place is a great option for entertaining vegetarian guests or for those who would like a break from our normal spicy Indian cuisine. Prices are not too bad and given the quality of the food well worth it. Ambience is light and refreshing during the day and very hip at night. Little Italy offers a fine selection of wines to go along with the food. The drinks menu offers all the usual suspects including those refreshing mocktails. Definitely a place to go back to on occasion.