If you love Italian food then you are bound to love Riva Blu. For this is no ordinary restaurant but one that gives a true taste of Southern Italy.

It’s no secret that Italians are passionate about their food and this passion is reflected in the menu, service and food at Riva Blu.

A cosmopolitan atmosphere envelops you when you step through the glass doors even on the coldest nights – suddenly the sun is shining so to speak.

The blue décor and well choreographed tables with comfortable leather seating says it all – this is the place to enjoy being pampered with a touch of luxury.

Riva Blue’s reputation for good Italian food is well known in the city ,that is why on a freezing mid-week night its full of discerning diners – but because its so well planed there’s privacy and space for everyone.

Whilst we perused the menu we ordered some pitted Gordal olives from the Da Dividere section of the menu which translated means sharing appetizers. They were juicy and tender and there was a more than ample portion.

For antipasti my colleague decided on the Bruschetta Gamberoni. The toasted sour dough was perfect – soft in the middle and crispy on the outside. The pan fried king prawns were succulent whilst the accompanying chilli mayonnaise was not too hot – in fact it was just right to bring out the flavour of the prawns.

I decided to be rather daring and chose a new dish on the menu in the Riva Recommends section – which is more than very useful. Frittatina Carbonara is a dish in the true spirit of Naples. It’s a wonderful dish that is both unusual and tasty with crispy, golden pasta fritters reinvented with rich Italian flavours.

The deep fried pasta fritter, guanciale Pecorino and black pepper in a pasta and bechamel fritter was certainly tasty and I loved every morsel of it. A traditional dish according to our waiter it was first invented to get children to eat left over pasta and soon became a favourite dish for all the family

For main course it had to be a Calzone from the Pizza Napoletana selection for my colleague. The presentation of this folded pizza made it look more than appetizing. The dough was amazingly light and crispy on the outside. The pizza was very generously filled with ricotta, San Marzano tomato, and a delicious smooth smoked provola that complimented the Napoli salami.  This had taste and flavour especially the rich sauce inside the Calzone. My colleague said she hadn’t tasted a Calzone like this since her business trip to Milan some years ago.

My choice for main course had to be the Gnocchi Sorrentina, one of the many vegetarian dishes offered on the menu. Never had I had a Gnocchi so tasty and perfectly cooked. It was a large portion bursting with flavour made with Buffalo mozzarella  and languishing in a slow-cooked flavoursome tomato sauce and garnished with basil.

It was a while before we felt able to order Dolci – desserts but could not resist what was on offer on the menu.

My colleague, who is a Tiramisu fan,could not resist trying the Tiramisu Al Pistachio. It was light and so well presented. The Pistachio were on the outside and gave a lovely contrast to the coffee, amaretto soaked sponge and mascarpone.

Now I just could not resist a dessert made with one of my favourite tipples Limoncello – Delizia Al Limone – an exclusive twist on the Amalfi coast dessert.  When it arrived it had been obviously handcrafted . The lemon was covered in a lemon crispy fondant coating . Inside was a sponge with a Limoncello and mascarpone cream filling  and a soft lemon centre. This was pure decadence and must have been made in the Angel’s kitchen.

Soon we discovered we were the last people in the restaurant but in the wonderful pure Italian way no one tried to rush us. That’s one thing about Riva Blue the staff are amazing. They are so attentive and really know their product well and above all make you feel special and really at home.

So when we left it wasn’t goodbye to Riva Blu it was Ci Vediamo! (So Long) we will be back very soon.

Riva Blu, 11/12 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5HD. Tel: 0113 244 3220

Open: Monday to Thursday 12 noon – 10.00pm; Friday and Saturday 12 noon – 11pm; Sunday 12 noon – 9.00pm