IF, like me, you go in search of comforting carbs as winter sets in, I think I may have found your new favourite place.

Piatto Italian Restaurant seemed to glow out of the darkness as my family and I walked along Connaught Avenue in Frinton, hungry, cold and in search of an after-work meal with no washing up.

I always look for a few key ingredients at Italian restaurants – traditional hearty sauces with pasta, pizzas with thin bases and heaps of topping, and that extra special touch. A certain authenticity or quirk that you don’t often get at big chains.

Walking into Piatto, which is small and cosy, we were given a lovely warm greeting, and the ambient lights made me instantly relax as we sat down to order.

Keeping things simple, we went for a shared starter of garlic bread with mozzarella, which we demolished over glasses of wine and a beer for the step-dad. We ordered two plates between the three of us which was just enough.

Piatto’s menu has the right amount of choice, covering the main Italian food groups of pizza, pasta and risotto but not too many variations of each. I was really impressed to see the prices were not more expensive than those at big chains.

We waited a little while for our mains (on a Tuesday night) but were more than happy catching up while several other couples dined at other tables. A jug of water we ordered went awry so I made do with my enormous glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, which went down a treat. A hint of opera in the background was a nice touch rather than being imposing and the restaurant felt unpretentious and homely.

Our faces lit up as the waitress brought over our meals – mine a spaghetti bolognese, my step-dad’s a festa a base di carne pizza (meatballs, ham, chicken, bacon and chorizo) and my mum’s a chicken pesto pasta – despite her ordering a chicken risotto.

Not one to make a fuss, mum thoroughly enjoyed the creamy chicken, peppers, onions and delicate pasta in pesto sauce, not mentioning it was the wrong dish until she had completely finished (something she has never managed before with Piatto’s generous portions.)

With no hint of overstatement, my spaghetti bolognese was nothing short of perfect. The sauce was moreish, balanced and full of rich flavour. Being presented with a deep bowl full of beautifully cooked bolognese topped with cheese was exactly what I needed on a cold evening and I struggled to stop eating even though I was full. The chefs at Piatto clearly focus on what’s important – simple, satisfying dishes that live up to your expectation.

My step-dad’s pizza was packed with topping and the base looked impressively thin and crisp. The whole thing disappeared in record time with just a lone meatball left to offer me and mum and a declaration that it was one of the best pizzas he had tasted.

Almost tempted by cheesecakes and sorbets, we decided against pudding this time. But I have no doubt in my mind we will be returning to Piatto for more friendly chat from our host and big portions of simple but well-executed food with plenty of carbs.

And we might even get a risotto next time.

MENU

Garlic bread with mozzarella £3.80

Festa a base di carne pizza £11.30

Penne Polo Pesto £11.50

Spaghetti Bolognese £9.35

VERDICT

Atmosphere 4/5

Food 5/5

Decor 3/5

Value 4/5

Service 3/5 

Disabled access? Yes