Since we’re looking at the happenings in Block 338 this month, I’d intended on trying out one of the newer eateries.

But walking the area for our feature, I came across Mino’s and was immediately captivated.

Tucked down a back street, Mino’s truly resembles a classic Italian bistro, straight out of Naples or the less chi-chi areas of Rome. With its outside courtyard and intimate, dark interior, there’s a definite flavour of la dolce vita.

For appetiser I chose crespelle al fungi – oven-baked pancakes stuffed with cheese and beef salami topped with a mushroom cream sauce – my dining companion went for the toasted ravioli stuffed with spinach, for me these were the standout dishes of the evening.

My pancakes were light and fluffy with a creamy melt-in-the-mouth stuffing – but to describe them as a heart attack on a plate wouldn’t be an overstatement, so sinful but at the same time so pleasurable!

The ravioli was a bit of an education – I’ve never tried toasted pasta before but it really works and the spinach tasted really fresh and tangy.

For mains we opted to share, the house combo pizza – OK but a bit bland and a little too many black olives for my liking – and a dish of cannelloni alforno.

We also tried gnocchi a la sorenina which sadly came smothered in a tomato sauce so strong it tasted as if someone had simply squeezed a tube of puree over the potato dumplings and missed out the promised herbs completely.

However, the cannelloni more than made up for it. With home-made pasta, minced beef, mozzarella and ricotta topped with melted parmesan and béchamel sauce, this was another one to really challenge the arteries but boy did it hit the spot – with belly full I could quite happily have slipped gently into a carb-induced coma with my chum not far behind.

That is, of course, if we hadn’t had to stay awake to check out the deserts.

With the Italian theme, we’d hoped for something a bit special in terms of ice cream but it was simply the standard fare, though prettily presented, and my tiramisu did little to challenge the taste buds.
All in all though, there was more good than not and I really liked the atmosphere. The staff were attentive and friendly, without hovering, and the place seems popular with locals which is always a good sign.

The bill (for two)
Crespelle al fungi BD3.000
Toasted ravioli BD3.500
Cannelloni alforno BD3.500
Gnocchi a la sorenina BD3.700
House combo pizza BD5.100
Minos icecream BD1.900
Tiramisu BD2.200
Iced tea BD1.500
Lemon juice BD1.900
Mineral water BD0.900
Total BD31.280