Bistro Italiano in County Durham

Delicious and authentic Italian food, friendly boss. Recommended!

Restaurant was busy when we arrived and we waited around 5 minutes to be seated ( I did ring ahead and ask if a table for 2 was available) we were shown to a table at the back of restaurant which was pushed against white wall which was also all we had to look at! We waited a good while before we were given menus and drinks order taken. No pumps its bottles only so 2 Peroni ordered. Weren’t quick with drinks or taking order., a male member of staff stood next to our table and just stared at my partner which was weird and uncomfortable then after what seemed an age he walked off .. didn’t ask or take order! Finally someone who asked if we were ready to order! We were both hungry and food took a good while to arrive. I ordered Penne alla Siciliana which was aubergine in a basil, mozzarella and tomato sauce. Very disappointed with what was on my plate overload of penne and tomato sauce, I couldn’t find any mozzarella and aubergine was a few tiny pieces. It was basically pasta and bland tomato sauce .. we ordered a garlic bread with tomato to share with mains the bread was cooked well but It was overloaded with bland tomato sauce: Nobody came to ask if everything was ok or if we needed more drinks ( we did need drinks) due to location of table was difficult to catch anyone’s attention. We’d finished before anyone came to table: we didn’t bother with another drink just wanted to leave. I did mention the lack of ingredients on my plate however he didn’t seem interested! My partner had fish and wasn’t impressed: overall a busy restaurant with no atmosphere and poor service ., and dishes missing main ingredients wouldn’t be in a hurry to go back.

Didn't eat as went to see a band.Nice place with a good atmosphere

Quite busy but what can you expect on weekends,

I had a steak at this restaurant, and it was excellent – cooked perfectly and full of flavor, massive portion as well. The rest of the meal was just as good, with everything well-prepared and delicious. The staff were attentive and friendly, making the whole dining experience even better. Highly recommend!

Table for 13 on a Saturday evening. On arrival, previous diners had not yet vacated our table, so we were asked to wait upstairs, which we did for around ten minutes, in a characterful (or should I say a bit shabby?) room which reminded us of our shared flats in the 1970's. However, any misgivings were dispelled once we were seated at our table in the intimate bistro. We had the fire exit near us, so we could control ventilation. This was comforting as there were quite a lot of people in a small space. Waiting staff were brilliant, nimble and friendly, and our orders were taken promptly and efficiently The food arrived in a timely manner, with not one single slip or mistake, which is impressive for a party of so many people. Good linen and tableware. The menu was very varied, with some interesting options. We all enjoyed our well cooked individual meals, mostly pasta or rice based, with no complaints. The desserts looked lovely, beautifully presented, my only regret is I did not have room for one. Excellent quality, friendly service, would return.

Small place,looks like a dump from outside,tables are a bit squshed together but the food and service are top notch.

Amazing authentic Italian spot, located right outside of the city centre! The food was amazing and for the price you can’t complain at all! The portion sizes were very generous and all of the staff were very friendly and observant. I can personally recommend the minestrone soup (if available as it is a soup of the day option) as well as the bolognase. The food all tasted fresh and homemade style, helped by me seeing them bring in a new sack of potatoes 😁 Overall an incredibly cheap, tasty little find!

Lovely little Italian restaurant serving delicious food. Service was excellent and the place itself was refreshingly quaint and traditional. We will definitely return!

Quite cosy. Small Italian restaurant in Durham. If looking for authentic Italian cuisine this is the place. Unless off peak, otherwise reservations is a must. We are lucky to have a table for two at 4 pm during weekend. Around 5 pm is almost full.

Arrived with 4 friends tea time on a Saturday lovely welcome not very busy When we first arrived we were disappointed with exterior we thought where have we booked ! Traditional Italian style inside. The food we had was amazing yes we thought a bit expensive but worth every penny. We will definitely be returning many many times.

Had several meals here and never been disappointed. Great atmosphere, food, tunes and friendly staff. Prices reasonable.

Was staying at Travelodge and this is a short walk from there. Good choice of food, well prepared and served. Nice (quiet) atmosphere.

Following a proposal of marriage we arrived earlier than expected. The food, service atmosphere and pacing of courses was amazing. Thank you for the bubbles too. Perfect 🥰

If you like Italian food this is the place to GO to. Starter 1st class, mains Tremendous, can not fault it, prices & service you cannot beat

lovely Italian restaurant, not reminiscent of the chain restaurants, just as i prefer them, authentic. Wonderful food, fab specials board the crab ravioli was sublime and perfectly seasoned. We had a bottle of wonderful Gavi di Gavi and lovely friendly knowledgeable service. Will definitely return, its years since i ate here and its still so good. Highly recommend

Great restaurant so busy and superb value

The service was excellent. Very efficient, quite friendly. The restaurant was bustling. We ordered pizzas which were nice but not remarkable - we found them very salty.

Lovely restaurant. Very highly recommended 👌

I’m in an Italian restaurant and it was poor. Calamari starter was soggy and rubbery. The pizza was less than standard. Must try harder.

A good selection of dishes, superbly cooked. Service was excellent, friendly and efficient. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

Excellent seafood and seafood pasta at this busy local Italian restaurant.

Venue - Quaint quirky Italian, very intimate, music was a bit weird for the vibe of the place, was expecting nice chilled Italian music but the tempo was a bit on the quicker side, was funny listening to the staff singing along though (we were next to the server station, was hard to miss) Staff - Couldn’t have done more for you, genuinely very attentive and consistent, walked us through the specials board etc. Drinks - Wine list was extensive, have a huge selection of some really good ones. Food - Personally not blown away but it was tasty, chicken was a little on the dry side, don’t think it matched the cost in my opinion. Cost - Definitely on the higher side, but it’s Durham city centre, I think it’s slightly too high for what it is but nothing to make a drama about, it would be somewhere I will return to for a treat night.

Another perfect meal with brilliant service Romantic authentic Italian which never disappoints. Both pasta dishes were delicious and just right serving size accompanied withe thin garlic bread. Special appreciation to Max for his brilliant service

Food delicious and bursting with flavours. excellent service from helpful friendly staff. Reasonably priced, good value for money, good sized portions. Best fillet steak by far in durham and was cooked to perfection .

Fantastic visit to this lovely restaurant. I advised the waiter that I had dietary restrictions and he was very careful to ensure he accurately captured my request and the chef produced an absolutely wonderful meal - without oil, butter, cream or cheese! It really was a beautiful meal, the staff were excellent and I will definitely visit again, wonderful!

Lovely little place! We got a cheesy garlic bread for a started and I ordered the tomato and mozzarella gnocchi and my boyfriend got the calzone (which was huge) for mains. The food was lush and arrived quickly, the waiters were super friendly too.

Lovely meal at bistro italiano - very nice food and the service was first class. Atmosphere was lovely. Will definitely return!

A wonderful restaurant- we are recommending it to all our friends having heard about it from my son who was a student in Durham a few years ago. There is a huge variety of food all perfectly cooked and presented and the atmosphere and service are excellent.

2 wonderful meals in 1 weekend. Food beautiful and great atmosphere. V friendly but not in your face.

An authentic Italian restaurant in a slightly out of the way location. Attentive and courteous staff with an authentic Italian atmosphere.

5 of us arrived at 7:25 for a 7:30 table, booked as my Birthday treat. We were told it would be a 10 to 15 minute wait as they were busy. We were given the option of going to a waiting area where we could have a drink and peruse the menu. We accepted and were taken to a freezing room housing excess furniture. Although not overly happy, we sat and waited for the promised waiter to bring said menus and take our drinks order. 15 mins later we were still waiting, so we upped and left. It was my first and last visit.

Fantastic food brilliant service very attentative only fault lack of car parking

Been here twice now, everything has always been absolutely terrific ❤️💜❤️

first time ever been lived in Durham over twenty years highly recommended food was divine and portions was huge had to take some home

My son booked this for today for a treat for mother's day as he and his girlfriend are regulars. Had the most lovely starters that I'd never had before, pate stuffed mushrooms. In fact everyone had beautiful meals. Staff very friendly. Good price. Will definitely go back.

A Monday night in Durham, quiet and looking for somewhere to celebrate our friend’s birthday. The reviews were great for Bistro Italiano so we made our way there. We were greeted in a friendly relaxed way and invited to take a seat at a properly laid table with tablecloth, linen napkins and flowers on the table. The restaurant is small and cosy, low ceilings and ambient lighting and is evocative of the traditional Italian trattoria. The menu is large, varied and also is complimented by a specials board, which the waiter took time to tell us about. Great wine choice on a board and other drinks were available. We ate starters of carpaccio with fresh Parmesan, calamari and a specials dish of aubergine, cooked in a tomato sauce. All delicious and perfect portions. Our mains were just as tasty, with surf and turf and fillet with lobster, sea bass and tuna. All cooked to our taste and presented beautifully. We chose an expensive red wine which was decanted and enjoyed throughly. Desserts consisted of creme brûlée, panna cotta and lemon sorbet. Again delicious and presented beautifully. A flaming sambuca for our friend was on the house. It was a very quiet Monday night and the only other two guests had departed earlier but our host never rushed us. A thoroughly enjoyable meal and service was excellent. A hidden gem in Durham

This is a lovely traditional Italian restaurant serving delicious freshly cooked food. A nice touch to have white table linen and the atmosphere is relaxed and really friendly. We had a great meal, enjoyed every course, such a happy evening with friends and wished we were staying another night in Durham so we could come back to eat straightaway. Will definitely return.

Just been once and has become my favourite place for a meal out in Durham. Super friendly staff, delicious food and really affordable pricing. The setting is really intimate and unlike anything else in town, felt like a small getaway! Can’t recommend more, will definitely be back

Proper atmospheric Italian restaurant! Great food, entertaining staff and all-round great value. Wines were good, also.

Best Italian food i have eaten 😋

We had a reservation but we were assigned to a storage room and no one took our order . 🥲So we left

Had a wonderful evening with friends new and not so new. Had the scallops, which I do every time I go to Bistro Italiano as they are superb. The staff don't rush you here and we're the last to leave.

Food was average but overpriced and the decor/ cleanliness was very lacking They really need to update doesn’t look like the place has changed since the 80s

Excellent ambience, food, great staff. A1

On recommendation from Italian friends we gave this a go. Doesn't look much from outside but don't let it put you off. Food outstanding service as good as anywhere place was heaving. Prices are family friendly good choice of wines can't complain. Definitely going back.

The lasagne is the best I've ever had

Great service not too rushed not too slow I can honestly say that my meal was outstanding and the best Italian meal I have enjoyed. I frequently have meals out in London at top Italian restaurants charging double plus Alex

Lovely place, great service, atmosphere and tasty food!

What a beautiful meal. Service excellent. Food divine. Can heartily recommend this place.

Lovely, small place for an Italian. Good service and tasty food.

Very nice meal in a Cozy little restaurant, with plenty of meal & drink choices. Well positioned on a street with parking. Good value, and great taste, keep it up.

I was somewhat hesitant to try this restaurant at first, it is a little off the beaten track and the rather scruffy external appearance does little to entice the uninformed diner. Once inside, however, I couid immediately understand why everyone I asked for an Italian restaurant recommendation told me to book early! This is not a luxury dining experience, but in terms of the quality of food, cleanliness of the crisp cotton clad tables and napkins, friendliness of service and width of menu choice it is simply exceptional! At 61 years of age and with many tens of thousands of miles travelled, Ive eaten in countless Italian restaurants (it is my favourite cuisine) - The garlic, tomato and cheese bread I had for starter at Bistro Italiano is absolutely and without question the best I have ever eaten,anywhere. A comparatively simple main course choice (Pollo al Crema) was beautifully prepared, with a rich sauce and tender chicken. I will count this little gem of a restaurant amongst my most lucky finds. I will be back!

Fantastic traditional Italian restaurant. Great quality food, and old school atmosphere with unobtrusive yet attentive service. Wide choice of unusual Italian wines. The Gavi Di Gavi was superb.

Service was outstanding and the food was absolutely scrumptious and fresh. White Russian cocktail wasn’t on the list but they made it to perfection! Definitely will visit again.

Very good food good atmosphere nice service, nice selection on the vine, and to finish off very tasty desert.

Went with family for a birthday celebration had a lovely meal

Excellent dinner here. Our server was welcoming and helpful for providing wine recommendations. Had the seafood risotto which was fantastic. Even brought out lemon water to rinse away the fish from my fingers. The tiramisu was delicious. Never rushed to leave.

Lovely tasty food, and great service. Very accommodating where allergy's are concerned.

Everything about our time at this restaurant was very good.

A great Italian restaurant. The food was delicious - I had the sea food risotto. The carbonara was also very nice. Great garlic bread. Lively atmosphere but fine for grown up family meals or friends.

Really nice family-run Italian restaurant. Friendly staff, good atmosphere and delicious food. Definitely worth a visit for any Italian cuisine aficianados.

Went in as 6 without reservation, the waitress quickly figured out to rotate a few tables allowing her to let us all fit, which is the first time I've seen something that smart in a restaurant in the UK. The food was quite good, not the biggest portions, but the prices were very reasonable.

Service was friendly but professional. Very welcoming and helpful! Food was delicious as always! Highly recommend this place for a date night or a nice family meal out!

brilliant service and food was divine

7 friends from work all had a brilliant time on 30 June 2023. Pre ordered and starters came just as we sat down. By far my favourite restaurant in Durham. Food and service First Class. Our waiter was particularly attentive.

We had an evening meal here and the food and service was excellent.The alcohol was expensive with pinot grigio @ £26 per bottle and bottles of lager £4.50 for 330 ml bottles - no draught beers. Very nice food served by friendly waiters.

After two unmemorable experiences, for our last night in Durham we thought that we would try somewhere further from the main tourist area and we were so glad we did. The food was superb (including the best tartufo I have ever had} , the wine excellent, the service cheerful and the prices reasonable. Hats off to the lovely family who run it.

After two unmemorable experiences, for our last night in Durham we thought that we would try somewhere further from the main tourist area and we were so glad we did. The food was superb (including the best tartufo I have ever had} , the wine excellent, the service cheerful and the prices reasonable. Hats off to the lovely family who run it.

Superb evening in this very friendly restaurant. The food was delicious and presented beautifully along with a great bottle of red wine, our steak dishes were superb. Banter with Max (one of the waiters) added to the superb evening. Thankyou to all, you definitely should try this place when you visit Durham.

The food, the atmosphere, the service here are all absolutely fantastic. Don’t be put off by the somewhat run-down and dated decor and exterior - once you’ce been welcomed in and sat down , you appreciate the old fashioned rustic charm! The food is so good, a great selection of starters and mains with some particularly good fish and seafood dishes. I would highly recommend and will definitely return. Thanks!

Excellent food & service. A hidden gem. Thoroughly recommended

Fabulous food very friendly staff great service loved it starters and main course gorgeous would return tomorrow the goats cheese starter was delicious and prawn tagliatelle was so nice not the cheapest in town but definitely the best

We visited this restaurant on our first night in Durham as it was close to where we were staying. I am delighted that we did as the food was really good. There was a very good choice of main meals and also desserts. I can thoroughly recommend the chicken dishes and also the pannecotta. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we returned again on our last night. The service was very good and our waiter was especially attentive and helpful as I have to eat gluten free. Thank you for two very enjoyable and tasty meals out.

Excellent food and service. Dined here twice and both times the food was exceptional. Happy to accommodate food intolerances and attentive service

Never judge a book by its cover, never judge a restaurant by its place on Claypath. Frankly the food was excellent and the staff were friendly and attentive.

Had two meals here last week. We were impressed by the atmosphere on the first visit and booked again but were slightly disappointed the second time as the restaurant was less busy. The service was immaculate on both visits and the food was very good on both occasions. Very varied menu with a great selection of fish and meat dishes.

Went here for tea and most say this place has gone back over. Ordered the risotto pollo and the pasta Alfredo. Other than one dish was rice the other pasta both dishes tasted the same and were extremely bland. (a lot like the menu) . Finally they don’t serve draft beer or lager so to have to pay £4.60 for a small bottle of lager is bordering on criminal…honestly it surmounted to a pint of lager costing £9.20. Now I know it’s a struggle for business to survive in the current climate but your customers are facing the same struggles. Will not be returning…ever!

Had an amazing meal Can’t recommend highly enough. Lovely ambiance, food from the specials board fantastic.

The best Italian in Durham. Every time. Have been over 20 times here. Stunning food, great value for money, service fabulous and ambience perfect for date night. Cannot recommend this place enough; look no where else for a perfect Italian meal!

We called into this place for an early dinner, to be fair we'd been here a few times but not for a long time and it had sort of slipped our minds. We were the first there, to the point of having lights turned on as we entered. Quite amusing watching the place come to life. Our starters were the sacllops and lobster ravioli, both excellent. Mains were both steaks, one Diane and a fillet, again perfect. This five Star review comes with a slight caveat, I might have marked the over all review down because of the deserts, nothing wrong with them, just generic and a bit disappointing. But seeing as the starters/mains were so good, it didn't seem fair. My advice would be skip the deserts and have a coffee. It's a lovely place to eat, with great food(bar the deserts) would definitely recommend.

Too slow and the food is absolutely rank

Chance find on a Sunday night. Excellent food far better than we expected. So good we are going back tomorrow to be a little more adventurous. Thanks

Great restaurant but up a lot of steps and the loo is even higher. We had a voucher as a Christmas present but the waiter said to my young lady they didn't do vouchers and kept a straight face, then he turned round and looked at me and winked. We had a great night. The food and wine were very very good. We wanted more wine and were persuaded that a bottle was cheaper than 2 large glasses, which it was, but it took us so long to drink it the place was closing down and some of the staff had their coats on. But no one complained about us being last. Would go back any time.

Great food, lovely atmosphere and friendly sevice

Been twice and has been excellent both times. Food is top class and the service is great. Huge thanks for making both times a great experience, we will be definitely visiting more.

Haven't been here for quite some time, but the food was lush. Great service too. Highly recommended if you're looking for an Italian restaurant in Durham.

Fantastic meal with our 5 grandchildren. The food was excellent and they were lovely to the kids

Only had takeaway but it’s been amazing every time !! So flavoursome, always delivered quickly and is piping hot! Very authentic Italian too

Working in Durham for a couple of nights and this little gem popped up in the search. So glad we went. Every dish was very tasty. Can't fault the food at all. Keep it up guys.

Great little family run restaurant , with a great atmosphere

Who ever was managing this place tonight needs sacking. Rubbish service and arrogant attitude. We had a table booked and 30 mins later nobody had even asked us if we wanted a drink while we were waiting. Their excuse was 'it's not our problem that people are still eating'. OK that's fine but your attitude was appalling. Don't work in the hospitality trade if you're not fit for the job.

Why take bookings if you can't accommodate your customers. And why do you not apologise and take responsibility for your inadequate management. Poor poor service. Dont blame your customers if you can't do your job. Table booked, waited 30 minutes and nobody even asked us...

Nice food with great and charming milieu!

Despite Durham being really busy & even though we hadn't made a reservation, they were able to seat the 3 of us straight away in quiet part of the restaurant. Service was friendly & pretty quick considering how busy it was. We opted for 3 different pasta dishes from the main menu & they were all delicious & very filling. A lovely dining experience. I would strongly recommend.

Absolutely superb food Excellent choice of food and wines Value for money Great staff - who cant to enough to help in any way, shape or form Lovely ambience Going back for our third visit

Fantastic food in a great atmosphere. A wide Italian menu, with a full range of pizza, pasta and main courses of chicken, steak or fish. Amazing desserts if you have any space left! Recommended!

A chance find on our recent Durham trip. We found the restaurant using restaurants near us & then checked out Trip Advisor Home cooked Italian food with a very hospitable host and his staff

Tasty enough, but pretty standard; no disappointments, however nothing blew us away. Staff are really pleasant and accommodating. Drinks are good for wine, but other stuff is lacking - can't get a negroni, for example. Overall a decent experience, and no big criticisms - stick to the dinner deal for a good value meal. You can get tastier stuff at other Italian places in the region.

This restaurant is an absolute gem, great food and service.