Evening pasta @ Cartoccio
166 Aigburth Rd, St Michaels, Liverpool, L17 7BR
Cartoccio is an unassuming-looking Italian restaurant on a pretty unglamourous stretch of Aigburth Road (albeit not too far from the drag of popular bars and eateries of Lark Lane) which has, over the past couple of years, managed to attract a hardcore of fiercely loyal customers.
These regulars are coming to dine on Cartoccio’s namesake – an open bread pocket (sort of like a crispier pitta) filled with meatballs, chicken in white wine sauce etc. – but they’re also here to eat the best pasta in Liverpool.
Every Friday and Saturday evening the kitchen serves two homemade pastas, one meat-based and one vegetarian, with recipes changing every week or so.
On the menu for our last visit was a classic beef ragu with pappardelle – a ladleful of deep meat sauce covered with a thick layer (bordering on a crust) of heady grated parmesan – and an orecchiette puttanesca, with tangy crushed olives and beautifully sweet tomatoes. The fresh egg pasta in both dishes is as good as any I’ve tasted.
Desserts here are also excellent – if they have it on the counter then the orange zest ricotta cake is a must, even if you don’t think you have room.
