caffe.italissimo @ Twelve Central in Darlington

I was sceptical as usual when trying anywhere new due to food intolerances. I was quickly reassured by the staff who were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients. I had the best gluten/dairyfree sandwich ever. I will certainly back.

Wonderful coffee, focaccia and conversation with Leila on my visit to this lovely little Italian café today. I happened to stumble across this place whilst visiting Teesside airport and it was well worth it. I would highly recommend.

Fantastic place great service the coffee is fab and the daily sandwich offer just delicious. And Barney loved his treat, went again today and just superb gets better every time

Great venue....staff always friendly and helpful....👍👍👍👍👍

Great tasting food and lovely atmosphere. Staff and owner supper welcoming and friendly loved the ice coffee and cannolis outside in the sunshine ☀️

First visit will definitely be making more visits. Cycling club morning coffee stop, coffee (excellent) croissants both choc and pistachio (also excellent) lots more to test. We will be back 👍🙂

A lovely Italian cafe, the cakes and pastries looked wonderful! The staff are extremely friendly. The salad was satisfactory. Nice atmosphere.

Lovely place for a coffee. Great selection of cakes too x

We've been here twice on weekends and on both occasions I've been really impressed. I would highly recommend it. It may be a small venue but that makes it cosy. The team are friendly and most importantly the food is amazing and all freshly made to order. Perfect pasta, tiramisu to die for and prosecco on tap. Give it a try, especially if you live in the village, you'd be crazy not to. We will definitely be back again.

Very welcoming cafe. Used it as a stop on a cycle ride with our children. They were very helpful and accommodating. The food also was great and reasonably priced for the excellent quality. Thank you and we look forward to visiting again.

Just waited 15mins for a cup of tea, girl said had a few people in , I personally think she forgot and had a bit of an attitude when I asked about it, not very good customer service

Very friendly staff good service and looks like very tempting cakes

Great little spot; we pop in when seeing family at nearby retirement village. Service always exceptional, coffee great and today we had a great breakfast/brunch. Lovely friendly dog too 👍👍; we’ll be back. We

Great coffee, wonderful cannolis!

Such a lovely place to head for truly delicious food and the perfect coffee. The team here are so friendly too

Fantastic food at all times of day. Especially love the Italian English breakfast.

Sat on the outside tables tonight and could easily have been sitting in an Italian taverna down a lane in Naples. Fabulous food (try the N'duja roasties), a lovely Prosecco and excellent service all combined to drop my blood pressure after a really difficult week.

Sat on the outside tables tonight and could easily have been sitting in an Italian taverna down a lane in Naples. Fabulous food (try the N'duja roasties), a lovely Prosecco and excellent service all combined to drop my blood pressure after a really difficult week.

Wow what a little gem of a place. Went for a birthday celebration. The buffet was amazing which they served. I've been to Italy many times and I must say this was very authentic in taste and style. Will go again soon. Lovely staff and nice layout of cafe. It is licensed so also serves alcohol.

No other words than excellent all around! Best breakfast I have ever had the English Italian top quality food accompanied by a lovely caramel iced coffee! We are working in the village over the next few weekends and will definitely be back! Lovely friendly and fast service give it a try!

Nice coffee and friendly staff.

Gorgeous food, exactly what the village needs, top class and brilliant service✨✨

Superb meal home delivered from Caffè Italissimo last night from the new Cucina menu 5 Star 🌟

Food and service is always first class. Coffee is wonderful!

Wonderful place to chill out n meet lovely people.

Had takeout pizzas tonight …. Amazing will be back

Coffee is excellent and food superb 👌

We were warmly welcomed when we arrived and taken straight to our table. Our drinks order was taken straight away and menus were already on the table. We were shown the specials menu and our order was taken. The food was amazing and piping hot. The ambience in the restaurant was very authentic as was the food. Following our meal I was able to take the remainder of my meal home as I didn’t want to waste it and it was just as nice warmed up the following day. The is a small deli area where you can buy cakes, pastries and other items. We would highly recommend a visit and we are Looking forward to a return visit.

Tried the lunch-time "Fiery Italian" with lots of very Italian-sounding ingredients, but it wasn't fiery at all and was basically two big lumps of focaccia with very little filling. My chicken was also dry and had some small bones left in. Partner's "Capra" sandwich similar - very 'bready' and dry to eat. Consider serving as x2 open sandwiches with more filling or adding some side to the plate as at £7.50 it's too expensive.

Love this place, food and service is great but the coffee is the best I’ve ever had, highly recommended!

First time visit on an evening and tried the new 3 course menu. All I can say is absolutely gorgeous and the best pizza I've ever had. Well worth a visit. We are so lucky to have this little gem in the village. The staff were so welcoming and couldn't do enough for us. Will definitely be returning on an evening having only been in during the day which is equally as good with all the lovely cakes and desserts on offer

Popped in for a coffee and was tempted by a lovely Danish pastry. All was delicious. Would recommend you try it out.

Lovely soup! Reminded us of home 🙂

Love the food here and nice friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

I usually can’t fault this place it’s our go to place when out on the bikes. Today though waited 45 minutes for our breakfast. Toast was dry asked for butter which never came only asked cause the eggs were hard boiled so no runny yoke to soften the bread. We did get a free coffee and an apology though. It hasn’t put us off but I hope next time it’s a lot better again and then I would rate a 5.

Great food .lovely pot of tea fantastic staff and the dogs got their usual pupacino

Really great cafe with good coffee and a fantastic dessert selection.

Our favourite place. Fabulous food and great service.

Fantastic coffee and food- iced coffee the best I've ever had! Clean, dog friendly, lovely sit out area for when the sun shines, places to park bicycles too.

Absolutely fantastic margarita pizza. I got three and we enjoyed the lot. Salad was great to! One of the best pizzas I've had...I can't remember better...definitely calling again.i live locally and thought it was a cafe....brilliant stuff Jonathan

Nice lil bike friendly cafe ,can't say about the food only had nibbles to go with Pretty nice cappuccino and coffees

Pretty nice cafe few seats inside and tables out side worth a visit and good staff

Gorgeous home made foccaccia made into yummy sandwiches.

Brilliant thoroughly enjoyed thank you Service with a smile and very reasonably priced. Well done we will be back 👍

Very expensive, snooty service from the supposed owner. Would recommend the cafe at the other end of the village over Italissimo. Not worth supporting a business ran by an unkind person.

Outstanding food! Brilliant atmosphere and the.service.always high standards. Definetely recommend it👌👏

Lovely venue cosy Staff very attentive & friendly Brilliant Coffee served piping hot & Sandwich special exceptional Excellent value for money Interesting to note dog friendly & next time mines coming

Great food and service, a really friendly Caffè...

Whilst the place seems buzzing, it feels like a hairdresser’s reception. I remember when the place was a great hairdressers and beauty salon, though the latter was unreliable. Toilets are dirty and are located -1 through the storage room. The atmosphere in the place is “tense” to say the least.

Lovely Italian cafe in Middleton St George. Friendly staff & great food & service.

Excellent café. The food is outstanding and the service is really good. I will definitely be popping in again an absolute gem of a place.

Great little dog friendly find! 👍

Last week we had a family dinner in Italissimo restaurant. Everything was a 5*! Firstly absolutely delicious food, amazing indoor playground, where our 5 year old met a new friends. And mostly important changing room for a baby! We definitely gonna back again!!!

After completing a level 1 barrista course and being a bit of a coffee snob then moving to Middleton St George, I found Italissimo! What a find. The coffee, drinks and food are all Italian of origin or as near as possible. It is really like eating and drinking in Italy, with perfect crafted cappuccinos and a range of beautifully presented light bites and meals that are fresh, authentic with generous portions. A small family business where everyone is so pleasant and welcoming and it is such good value for money.

Love this place. Good food, made with care & attention. Friendly service too.

It seems to have gone downhill since last I visited. The food is still nice, but it took over 25 minutes for four sandwiches and unlike the last time no garnish, just the sandwich on an empty white plate. The place has always had limited seating, but it feels more like a storeroom than an eating place at the moment. Disappointed.

I don't use the Cafe! I visit my hairdressers Twelve Central operating in the same building! I have used Alan for 20 plus years after leaving Sanriz in London.

In my time with my career, I have traveled around a lot so I normally depend on cafés for a much needed break. However, none stay in my mind quite like this one. Upon opening the door, you are greeted by the most relaxing, smooth jazz you can think of playing softly in the background. Then a very friendly greeting from the staff. As for the food, you just have to try everything they have to offer and everything lives up to the price. Most importantly to me, the coffee is exquisite. All bundled together, this café is a true diamond in the rough, a real hidden treasure. Keep up the amazing work, everyone!

I love this place, so much. Hands down the best coffee for 10 miles or so.

Amazing and quality food worth every penny..Highly recommended.!!!

Friends have moved near by, so we all popped in for a light lunch, what a gem great service with a smile and the food was 5 star we live in Thornaby but would love to live in this charming place and will be visiting our New Zealand friends regularly to enjoy.

Great pizza on Friday and Saturday.

What a hidden gem! We stopped for lunch while out on a family bike ride and we were truly impressed. The food and drink was all really delicious (including the best iced coffee I've ever had). And the service was friendly and prompt. Plus it was very bicycle-friendly, with a bike rack and lovely outside seating. Thanks - we'll be back soon!

Was a life saver when it opened for takeaways during lockdown. Has found a place in the village and filled a gap as previously no cafe there. Not yet chosen anything that we’ve been unhappy with. Long may it continue .

Little cafe in Middleton St George is definitely worth a trip. It's cozy inside and the staff were so friendly and helpful. Beautiful Italian pastries and coffee. It was a shame we didn't have time to stay for something to eat, but absolutely thinking of coming back.

My absolute favourite cafe around and about home. Always a great welcome, great coffee and delicious food

Fabulous coffee, great service, tasty treats! My new place to go when I'm in this neck of the woods.

Very pleasant. Good service, lovely food and coffee. Relaxed Brunch. Nice items to purchase in the shop also.

Nice cafe that does great coffee. Has a seating area to the side, which is good to enjoy your drink in the warm weather

Just popped in here ,,,talk about hidden gem , outstanding food & service .will be returning soon Thank you

Popped in yesterday to have lunch and coffee in the outdoor garden with my bike as it was a lovely sunny day! The sandwich was so delicious i thought id check out what desserts were on offer... Now this is the extra commendable part which ranks this cafe so highly in my eyes, when i was browsing the cakes i spoke to a guy who was very enthusiastic about desserts, asked him what there was that had no nuts in (as i have a nut allergy) and instead of just saying what they had without nuts/apologising that there wasnt anything which are the two answers you usually expect to that question, he offered to make me something customised and definitely nut free, in this case a warm fresh croissant with filling and coulis of my choice! So kindhearted and very good vibes from this cafe, it was just a great place to stop and is also bike friendly which is perfect. 😍😎

Nice little Caffè around the village. If you fancy a bit traditionnal Italian Pizza I highly recommend. It won't disappoint.

Excellent quality and experience. Highly recommended!

Great service, strong coffee and lush foccacia sandwiches. Great for a couple of weary cyclists!

Staff are always very friendly. Food is always excellent

On a ride out I was cold and pretty dirty from the wet roads, a Young gent who served me despite it being very busy provided an excellent service and made me feel relaxed and welcome despite how pitted I was. The food was beyond expectations. I opted for the prosciutto sandwich and a decaf latte. He even brought it out to me in the nicely presented outdoor seating area. I love how it’s catered for bikes too. I highly recommend this place to anybody who appreciates good food and coffee.

One of the best flat whites I've had in a long time. Only passing through the area, so no chance of becoming a regular, so do appreciate this place if you're local!

Amazing italian coffee and food, even do pizza's freshly cooked on fridays and Saturdays. Great place to come and chill for a while, and the puddings.... ❤❤❤

The food was amazing, I can't wait to go back!

What a little gem of a place. Really good coffee, beautiful food and friendly staff - you really can't ask for anything more. We've just enjoyed breakfast here, sausage focaccia followed by Pistachio cornetti and canolli. A perfect reson to support independent businesses. Erin Bielby.

Lovely food and excellent coffee. The staff are very friendly and welcoming.

Lovely service, food and coffee.

Great food and service. Would definitely recommend 👍🍕🍻

Lovely staff, great cakes and coffee with nice outdoor seating area to the side.

Love the coffee and pastries from here. Sitting in the outdoor area you could actually forget you're not on holiday.

Very cycling friendly cafe. Nice coffee. Not cheap. The artwork is very good.

Peaceful and tranquil place to go. Coffee was nice and the service was excellent

Could not believe this cafe is not on TripAdvisor. I had to start one to give it my excellent review. First read about it on our local news, it is a tiny cafe/bakery/italian mart/dessert/drinks place. It has a couple of tables indoors but more outdoors, very cute. Menu is mainly loaded with what the papers called sandwiches, but that doesn't do it justice at all. We have tried the foccacias and ciabattas, home made and oh so lovely, I cannot stress enough how good it is, be it with prosciutto or bacon or goats cheese, you've just got to try it. The dessert selection is just as impressive, the cheese cake is to die for, sells out quick so go earlier in the day to get your share. Needless to say, coffee is hands down best in town, iced coffee is great too. Haven't bought anything from its little mart tucked in a corner selling Italian goods, but I am sure it is top notch. This whole place is authentically Italian, and the staff is very friendly, funny and attentive. They serve homemade pizzas too from 5pm, I have yet to try that but heard they are just as amazing. I can happily sit there from breakfast till supper eating through their menu items sipping coffee through to prosecco with a bunch of mates!

Great food, great coffee, well excellent coffee great staff. Cakes and pastries are simply beautiful. If you are looking for authentic Italian or just simply a lover of quality produce, look no further. Christmas cannot come quick enough; mulled wine on a cold morning is simply divine.

'Bacon sandwich' doesn't do it justice. Lovely crispy bacon, excellent bread, and salad accompaniments. Friends had the Mortadella, sausage sandwich, and aubergine, and all reported their meal to be very good. A lot of the ingredients are genuinely Italian, and you can tell. Good atmosphere and service. Recommended.

Lovely coffees and Italian style pastries / cakes , beautifully presented in a stylish setting

Fantastic food and service with real authentic Italian ingredients

Wonderful place to eat with a real Mediterranean feel to it. Fantastic food made from good quality ingredients, cooked to perfection and served with a great selection of wines. Excellent, friendly service. We will definitely be back.

Lovely food with very good attentive service. Will be here again.

Great place with great staff and great food / coffee.

Lots of care and thought has gone into this cafe. A little green oasis. We sat outside in the garden area and had delicious pastries and coffee. Good spot if you're cycling through!

Absolute gem of a coffee shop. Definitely my new favourite place. The service is wonderful, everything freshly made to order and not to mention completely delicious.

Great little cafe, with a great choice of Italian sandwiches and treats. Gotta try the cannoli

Stopped for a quick coffee and cake while out on my bike. Quality produce.

Visited during COVID-19 restrictions, take away only. Great coffee and lovely take aways made up to a very high standard, walkers and cyclists welcome. Highly recommended