Restaurant review: Civerinos, Edinburgh

Civerinos, 5 Hunter Square, Edinburgh  0131-220 0851

But Italian restaurant Civerinos, one of the new kids on the block, offers something that this food and drink quarter has been lacking: laid-back, authentic cuisine served with a side portion of style.

And what’s even better is that it does not come with a hefty Royal Mile price tag.

Civerinos is a breath of fresh air. Light, bright and funky, the restaurant has adopted a casual approach to seating, with long benches replacing the traditional dining set-up. It encourages friendliness between parties, creating a great atmosphere which is helped by the uplifting beats.

The menu has a focus on sharing, with a selection of small plates ranging from fried Italian cheese to sliced rib eye steak.

My friend and I opted for a sharing starter of artisan Italian bread bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil (£4.80) which was the epitome of the restaurant’s street food roots. This light starter oozed flavour, with the juicy tomato and basil combination leaving a refreshing taste.

The restaurant’s main focus is pizza, but having previously sampled the delights from their pizza menu, I decided to go for a pasta dish.

With all the fresh pastas, you can choose either penne, spaghettini, bucatini or linguini. I opted for the penne with my basil, pine nut, parmigiano and pesto dish (£9.50). A big pesto fan, I was impressed by the sauce, a secret family recipe, with the flavours of the nuts and cheese bursting through.

A delicious, good value meal, perfect for a quick bite when out in the city centre.