Italian delights in Belfast

Originally launched in 2009, Little Wing started as a small Italian restaurant in Belfast and has now grown to have 8 different locations across Northern Ireland. Little Wing offers a vast menu of yummy, authentic Italian food, all of which can be enjoyed in any one of their many warm, rustic restaurants.

As something small before the main event, you can enjoy starters, like doughballs, cheesy garlic bread, or bruschetta. Then, as the main course, you may choose from their range of pizzas, calzones, and pasta. Little Wing also caters to those with dietary requirements, so, if you are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, you can still have your choice of dishes. For instance, in addition to their number of vegetarian pizzas and pasta, any of their 11-inch pizzas can be enjoyed on a gluten-free base and can also be modified to use vegan cheese instead of regular cheese if you want to avoid dairy.

Known amongst locals as one of the best Italian restaurants in Northern Ireland, The Chubby Cherub offers a truly authentic taste of Italian cuisine. Nestled in the centre of Belfast, The Chubby Cherub is a beautifully decorated, high-end restaurant that provides the perfect setting for a delicious Italian meal with friends and family.

The Chubby Cherub boasts an extensive menu, with the most popular item being their woodfire pizzas that come with a range of toppings. As a starter, or just something smaller, you can choose from their ‘Piattini: Small Plates’ and ‘Antipasti: Starters’ menus, which include dishes like Pork Arancini, Caprese, Garlic Prawn Bruschetta, and Strangford Mussels. For a heartier meal, you can choose from their selection of authentic Italian pasta and salad dishes. If you wish to finish off your meal with something sweet, you can browse The Chubby Cherub’s dessert menu, which includes classic dishes like Blueberry Panacotta, Tiramisu, and Cannolis.

Those who are vegan, or vegetarian can also join in on the fun as The Chubby Cherub has just launched their brand-new vegan menu. This extensive menu has options for small plates, starters, main courses and desserts, meaning that, whatever your dietary requirements, you can still enjoy delicious food.

A small, family-run pizzeria located in the heart of Belfast, Scalini is one of the most popular Italian restaurants in the city. Scalini is authentic both in its cuisine and in its décor, with its rustic red walls, plaid tablecloths and warm lighting.

The menu at Scalini is extensive with authentic Italian dishes to suit everyone. To start with, you may browse their ‘Antipasti’ menu, and choose one of their delicious starters. Then, for your main course, Scalini has a wide range of pizzas, with both classic and more adventurous toppings. If pizza isn’t your thing, you can choose from Scalini’s selection of pasta including, Spaghetti Carbonara, Linguini Siciliani, and Risotto Alle Verdure. Scalini also offers a range of meat dishes on their ‘Carne E Pesce’ and ‘Pollo’ menus if that is more up your street.

As the perfect ending to your meal, Scalini has an impressive dessert menu, with mouth-watering options, such as their Torta Di Cioccolato, Profiteroles, and Panna Cotta.

Situated on the Upper Newtownards Road, Il Pirata is one of many great restaurants in the area. It specialises in creating and serving authentic, hearty Italian dishes and its rustic interior makes it the perfect setting for a cosy lunch or dinner. You will be spoilt for choice at Il Pirata, as their impressive menu boasts a wide variety of tasty dishes.

Il Pirata’s ‘Cichetti’ menu offers a selection of delicious starters to kickstart your dining. These include mouth-watering dishes like Goats Cheese Polenta, Candied Fennel, Taleggio Fritters, and Creamed Cauliflower Crostini. Then, for an authentic Italian main course, you can browse Il Pirata’s pizza and pasta menus. Alternatively, if you prefer a meatier dish, their ‘Piatto’ menu has dishes, such as Beef Cotoletta, Duck Ragu, and Grilled Sea Bass. Moreover, Il Pirata also provides a full vegan menu, with appetising choices like Marinated Olives, Pickled Grape Salad, Crispy Polenta, and Potato & Zucchini Al Forno.

If all this isn’t enough, you can finish off your meal with one of Il Pirata’s many delicious dessert options. With dishes like Tiramisu and White Chocolate Panna Cotta, it’s hard to resist.