Il Calabrese in North Norfolk

This is not called il Caprese anymore - Michael’s Bistro as it is now called, was lovely for starters but the main courses were disappointing - it’s a shame’s especially the ramen which was without chili

No, we didn't know what an Italian dip was either - but we do now! It's like a Sunday roast, Italian style; filling and very tasty. Is it unique in Norfolk? England even? I don't know. I've never met one before but I certainly will again on our next visit to Holt. This is a tiny restaurant although there is some outside seating for better weather so it might be worth booking in advance just to be sure. The pizza is also authentic - and excellent, hand-pulled on the premises. This is an excellent concept and something really different that deserves to be successful - and there are electric car charging points right outside! What's not to like?

Had a fabulous meal here - food excellent, service excellent and great value for money. We had the roast which went down a treat followed by home made tiramisu! Great conversation with the chef/GM and we will definitely be coming back. Thank you for a great afternoon!

What a great find! We hadn’t booked and were lucky to get a table quickly. We called here after leaving a restaurant round the corner that had a poor children’s menu and not much for non meat eaters. Im so glad the staff got us in, the food was fantastic! My 4 year old loved her spaghetti, it was full of flavour. The pizza I had was delicious and my husbands spaghetti dish was tasty too, everything tasted fresh. Next time we are visiting Holt we will definitely be booking a table.

We went here as we were recommended this restaurant by a family friend, unfortunately we left disappointed. When we arrived it felt a little like we were intruding and it wasn’t the warmest welcome in the world. We then browsed the menu (the world’s smallest menu) before ordering. We ordered 2 pizzas, 4 portions of chips and the carbonara. The food was actually delicious, however the portion sizes were fit for a child. We did ask the waitress whether we could possibly have some more carbonara to which she responded saying that “that was the standard portion size” before walking off without acknowledging any further. Bearing in mind the carbonara cost £14.95, it was two big tablespoonfuls of pasta. We went to the counter to ask for mayonnaise to accompany the chips. The waitress didn’t once come over and ask if the food was okay, whether we needed anymore drinks or whether we wanted the dessert menu, she didn’t even clear our table - we physically went up-to the bar to pay. So all in all I really wouldn’t return. Which is a shame as the food was actually lovely.

We booked this restaurant for lunch and can honestly say it was the best meal we’ve eaten the whole we’ve been in holiday and we’ve eaten in some highly recommended restaurants. Great food, excellent friendly service and very good value for money. We loved it so much we’ve booked to go again before we go home. Highly recommended

This small cafe and wine bar is little family run treasure. The wine list is well chosen and not silly prices. The small and original menu reflects it is family run and many of the dishes family recipes. The service is friendly and efficient. Its small size means booking is recommended in the evening.

Il calabrese were able to fit us in early at short notice. Thank you very much for that. As a result we had the place to ourselves. Service was prompt and the food was hearty and filling. I asked about alcohol free drinks, they only had peroni0. I would love to see alcohol free red wine in addition to beer to choose from.

A very pleasant meal in a calm atmosphere. The waiter was friendly and helpful. The menu offered plenty to choose from for our party. Will likely return on our next visit to the area.

We had visited the restaurant last year so not being locals, we had pre-booked an outdoor table a few weeks before this visit to Norfolk. The table, weather, service and food were excellent. A good selection of different starters, bruscetta being particularly tasty, followed by pizzas or lamb/chicken kebabs for main. The service was very quick and efficient. Sadly no one had room for desserts so we'll have to return to try them!

Fortunately booked this lovely restaurant for the last night of our holiday. Really friendly service and delicious food which reminded us of happy holidays in Italy. Especially enjoyed the bruschetta, the pizza and afagato.

Best pizza I have ever tasted and my husband said it was the best pizza since he had one in Milan. The very pleasant waitress told us they were hand made on the premises and as I make my own I can verify that. Service was excellent, very good wine list and coffee was delicious. We also had Nonna's cake which was lovely and light, totally delicious. We, and our dog (outside seating only) were made most welcome.

Just finished a super meal here tonight Pizza and the Bologna’s dishes are excellent. Then we had to have the cheesecake and tiramisu Excellent evening Will come again soon

Lovely cosy Italian restaurant. Friendly service and the best pizzas we have ever eaten outside Italy!

Lovely, small, but cosy restaurant. Food and house wine was good and our waitress was very engaging and provided excellent service (I think her name is Yasmine - apologies if that is incorrect). Although the inside space is small, it is very Covid secure and we felt very safe throughout.

Wow what a lovely surprise. The food was really delicious. The staff are friendly and service perfect. We will definitely return.

Glad that I reserved a table a few weeks ago as sadly people turned away without a reservation. Very small Italian restaurant with a limited menu BUT what they serve is delicious. Great antipasta selection. Pasta and pizza delicious. Lovely staff who make the evening special. Parking outside Franklin's Yard Free after 6pm.

Delicious and lovely service. We enjoyed a last minute lunch of the Calabrian salad, meat platter and a pizza. Excellent coffee!

Lovely little Italian bistro. Friendly and attentive service. Food was very tasty and pasta perfectly cooked. Very enjoyable!

food delicious and plentiful, anti pasti spoilt for choice, tortellini in tomato sauce so light and so very very tasty and save room for a tiramisu surprisingly light and packed with flavour. Shared all this with my daughter and there was plenty to go around. Staff so helpful and friendly . If you just want a pastry try the cornetto (croissant) light and full of flavour washed down with a choice of coffees. Prices very reasonable for the quality of the food. Also importantly in these times very clean.

Lovely lunch. Had ALL the anti pasti and a lovely glass of red. Delicious. Had to walk round holt and spend too much in the ymca charity shop as a result

Once again returned to our favourite place, the food is fabulous and the owner so friendly , sat outside as had Bertie the dog with us and the weather was lovely .

Delicious food, lovely helpful staff. Very very clean. Our best eating out experience of our holiday during Covid. Thank you

Decided to book dinner at the above, reviews looked good. Weather during our stay was miserable so hoped a lovely Italian meal would cheer us up. The restaurant was fully booked, cosy & welcoming. The menu is not huge but enough choice to satisfy most people. We made our choices: bruschetta - which we both love. I chose spaghetti bolognese & my husband chose lasagne. Both large portions & gorgeous with Valpolicella. Would have loved a dessert but had no room in my tum. Great Service, a warm welcome & reasonably priced. Oh AND no pushing us off the table. A real treat, thank you, we will return.

Ordered 6 pizzas for collection. Fast efficient service. Friendly helpful staff and lovely pizza. Would reccommend.

Perfect pizza every time! Nice crispy base topped with the freshest ingredients. Just perfect. Thank you.

We called in for lunch and sat outside at a table that was sanitised before we sat down. Charming staff great food , Crab linguine, and cappuccino ( with real chocolate on top) Very efficient and friendly, They have a special fish event coming up which looks wonderful, but we live 2 hours away unfortunately. Thank you highly recommended

We came for lunch today whilst on holiday, My Partner and I and our little dog, we were made to feel very welcome, our little dog was made welcome and allowed to sit on her blanket on a chair outside. The food was fabulous we had Ravioli and a Beef Linguine followed by the most amazing Tiramisu the service was so friendly and welcoming. I would recommend this place over and over again and will definitely return.

Il CalabreseHoltfabulous759554082We called in here today as the normal tea room we go to was full, the best part was we will not be going back to our old tea room as this place is far superior, The owner was so friendly and serves the best coffee and cakes in Holt, It was that good we returned the next day even though we were staying in wells, will definitely be back in august. thank you even made the dog Bertie welcome

Midday lunch with very special friends could not have been better. We were warmly welcomed by Simon whose friendly approach remained professional in every respect. The meals arrived in good time with impressive attention to detail, catering specifically for the serious needs of one gluten-free guest seamlessly and without any undue fuss. The ambience promoting the owners strong Italian family connections was tasteful and everything was presented in a spotlessly clean and very warm, comfortable environment. The meals were very generous, beautifully cooked and reasonably priced. Franklyn’s Yard can be easily found at pavement plaque No. 14 along the highly popular ‘Holt Owl Trail’ which reveals lots of hidden locations in the charming Georgian town of Holt.

We were made to feel extremely welcome at this tiny restaurant on a very cold evening. If I could I would have given it 3.5 stars because it was better than average but not as good as very good. One reason for the let down was that my food wasn't very hot and was served on a completely cold dish. I also thought that there was not enough sauce for the pasta. I will certainly give it another go though as they were so nice.

Great atmosphere, delicious food and cheerful, attentive service so definitely going to make this a regular visit. Highly recommend!

Me and my husband stopped off in Holt for a wonder and came across this beautiful place, the coffee is gorgeous, the service is friendly and welcoming. Fantastic value for money. Very cosy and authentic, felt like we were in Italy! Would 100% go back and highly recommend anyone that visits Holt to go there.

Met my friend after work last night for a catch up.We had such a warm welcome from the owner who ushered us in from the cold.Fabulous menu, interesting, imaginative and feels absolutely authentic. I really don't know how they do it for the money but so glad they do.So if you haven't yet tried this fabulous little place yet, do yourself a favour and give it a go.You will not be disappointed. Holt lacks inivotive eateries, well it did... Not any more though!

We popped in en-route to the Xmas Holt Express , and explained our need for a quick meal. The staff were amazing in their attitude and helpfulness in fulfilling our request.The food was freshly prepared and delicious, service was quick and we really enjoyed the surroundings and decor of the restaurant. We want to come back for a longer more relaxed meal in the new year when we aren't so pushed for time. Can't wait.Restaurant is very small and intimate which only adds to its character. Car parking is right outside and the amazing village of Holt looks lovely especially at xmas.Highly Recommended

We had the most amazing evening on New Years Eve . The atmosphere was fun friendly and relaxed . I can’t praise the food highly enough . The starter platters were so delicious it was a meal on its own. Our veggie pasta was so flavoursome and tasty. There were three choices of pudding all so tempting. The value for money was amazing . The staff were so attentive and friendly. There was a wonderful bonus of a classical guitarist who was so gifted .I can praise the evening highly enough .I know where we will be welcoming in 2021.Best wishes to you allMary and Tim

What a wonderful evening we had at this delightful restaurant. Many thanks to Simon and his helpers for providing us with delicious food and superb hospitality. We will certainly be back for more!

Wow what a great place. We had a party here for 14 people and we had the restaurant to ourselves. Jasmine and Max (the waiting staff), could not have been better. They were quick and so efficient, particularly as we all had separate bills. The food was delicious and satisfied a range of dietary requirements. Because we had the whole restaurant it was really comfortable and sociable. I was delighted and thanks are echoing around Holt for such a super evening. Well done Il Calabrese

Came across this place by accident, it's near the main car park. What a delightful find. A little piece of Italy in the middle of Norfolk. Very friendly, family run, very Italian. Simple but well produced food. Worth a visit.

We had dinner here, 2 of us. Restaurant is small but ambience good and service and food were excellent. I had the pasta with prawns and tomatoes and my husband had the pasta ragu. Both were delicious and the homemade pasta was really good. We shared a dessert of cherry slice which was very big and very nice. If we come back to Holt we would definitely come here again.

Just popped in for a glass of wine and a snack, and we couldn't have been treated any better by Chloe.

Visited for lunch with mum and my toddler. It’s very small but the gorgeous smells lured us in! There is no “children’s menu” so to speak, but lots of options for littlies and we ordered a small pasta dish for the toddler which was a hit. I had a pizza which was SO nice - very light crispy base and loads of topping. Mum had meatballs and commented on how tasty the tomato sauce was. Great selections of drinks and even more beautiful desserts that sadly we were too full to sample! Would love to come back here one evening, such a busy little place.

Il Calabrese is a small restaurant with a nice atmosphere and nice staff. I know that there are a lot of four and five ratings for this restaurant on TA. I agree that if you are not happy with any aspect of your meal that you should raise it with the staff at the time and not save your criticism for a poor TA review - this assumes that if you return your food it will be better when it comes back out. I know that the owner is Italian and from Calabria where he goes frequently. I too am Italian and go to Italy a lot. I thought the food was fine. The pizza was nice with a generous topping but was very different to any pizza I have ever eaten anywhere in Italy. Mind you, I've yet to go to Calabria! Onto the meatballs with pappardelle pasta - there was not much pasta and the tomato sauce was a little watery - perhaps the past hadn't been thoroughly drained? We had a bottle of red wine - also fine. The prices were average. Nevertheless, we had a pleasant evening.

This tiny place is the only Italian we could find for miles around. But we’re really pleased we found itThe goods:Lovely place with only five indoor tables so you have to bookBeing small, it was very intimate & we ended up chatting to nearly everyone else in the restaurant Great service; the manager is ultra-friendly The food isn’t cheap but it’s divine The pizza was absolutely delicious. I don’t know how they make the base but it was indescribably goodLovely pudFree parking after 6pm in the car park outside The not so goods:Very expensive wine. We had a verdicchio which was one of the cheapest at £23Overall, we highly recommend this place

I booked via email after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor as we were visiting Holt for school rugby match. We only had time for pizza rather than a 2 or 3 course meal however I’m not sure we’d have managed anything else. Son and I had pizza di Parma and hubby have the beef ragu pizza. The Parma ham was very good quality - we eat enough of it to know! With gorgeous tomatoes and mozzarella. Hubby’s pizza was equally lovely. Wish we lived nearer as we would definitely be back. Very friendly welcome by the owner who remembered my name from the email. Just a lovely lunch and perfect for pre-match.

Really lovely little pizza restaurant. Went as a family and all ordered something different (including a toddler sharing with an adult - more than big enough meal to do this!), and all meals were enjoyed. There was also a couple in the restaurant enjoying a drink, and it appears a nice place for going that too. Staff were friendly and accommodating. You just book as it is a very small place, and several people came in while we were there to try and get a table but they were fully booked (including one woman who was shockingly rude and scrutinised the waitress about how many people exactly had they got eating that evening and why couldn’t she be fitted in - the waitress had the patience of a saint and was so polite, I think most other people wouldn’t have been). I visited on holiday but if ever in the area again this would be on my list to revisit!

We ate outside during the week for an early meal and had pizza and pasta with a lovely bottle of wine and (if you ignore the car park) the evening was spot on, the service good and the food tasty, hot and it truly did the trick. Thank you for providing a good place to eat in Holt. I hope one day they expand their horizons and go to a bigger place because we counted 10 people who walked away because the inside was fully booked. There is a winning combination here and I wish them well and hope they continue to provide more lovely meals.

Second visit this week, my husband and I have enjoyed both lunch and dinner at IL Calabrese. Salads to die for and fab main course. Reasonably priced. A small ambient restaurant with friendly professional staff who provide a personal service. Nothing is too much trouble. What more can you ask? A real taste of Italian hospitality!

We were on a day trip to Norfolk with my disabled wife plus carer and were so lucky to find this so cute little restaurant. The atmosphere is lovely they obviously they have put there heart and soul into this place. Service was so calm and pleasant that It made it feel like a little piece of Italy. The food choices and quality were delicious and reasonably priced. Thank you so much for rounding off our day in style.

The reviews were good for this restaurant so we were looking forward to eating here. The staff and general atmosphere were great but the menu was underwhelming. I had a seafood pizza which was huge( one family took the remains of a pizza home in a box) with tinned tuna and some prawns. My husband ordered a pasta dish. That too was a very large helping and although he was given the choice of pasta twists or ribbon pasta he was given the wrong one . It didn’t really matter and the manageress apologised but even so ,attention to detail. The house wine was superb but all in all the meal was overpriced.

Myself and 2 adult daughters enjoyed a lovely lunch here with friendly service and delicious food at a very reasonable price

Went for dinner and it felt like I was in Italy. The owner is lovely, very relaxed and friendly. The restaurant feels intimate and homely. The menu is not massive but everything we had was cooked to perfection. Really good quality ingredients put together very well, couldn’t fault it.

We’ve been trying to get into this restaurant for ages, so it was great to try it last night. Excellent pizzas, with delicious toppings and great base. Puddings fab too. Service friendly and efficient too

Second time we have visited over the last couple of months. Food on both occasions excellent. Staff are friendly and nothing is too much trouble. If you like Italian food you have to try this place. Will be back again and again I’m sure

An absolutely fantastic occasion, the food was to die for, the service first class, nothing was too much trouble for Simon and Ellie, lovely people. If you are in Holt or round about, book a table do not miss an opportunity to eat here!!!

Italian sharing dishes absolute divine. Lovely staff, freshly cooked food and very relaxed. Don’t bother going anywhere else when in Holt. It’s just like being on holiday sitting outside here.

Took father in law to Norfolk, his favourite place on earth, for his 90th birthday. By the end of day 3 he was more than happy to take a seat in a cafe whilst me and hubby meandered around this picturesque village. This place couldn't have been more perfect. Italian theme. Italian music playing. Memorabilia all around of the owners wedding photos, family etc. More or less identical to John's wedding to Maria Calucci over 50 years ago. My hubby's mum sadly passed away 14 years ago. He just sat there enjoying a cappuccino and a slice of delicious cheesecake. Soaking up the atmosphere and reliving precious moments. Only lost a mark on customer service. The waitress didn't seem to want to be there but maybe she had endured a long day.

This is a must visit. Menu small but food is amazing! Friendly staff and great atmosphere..booking advisable Will definitely be visiting again before we go home

Popped in for a coffee, lovely atmosphere and great service.... perfect flat white. Congratulations on your first anniversary of opening Simon and keep up the good work. Simon & Jo X

Our pizzas were absolutely wonderful! Very reasonably priced. A bottle of wine actually cost more than two pizzas!

I stay in Holt most weeks on business and have my favourite haunts for eating. II Calabrese was recommended by staff at Byfords as a good place to try. Have to say first impressions of the restaurant were disappointing and I wondered if I had made a mistake but could not have been more wrong. King prawn linguini (not too hot requested) was perfect, served promptly and tasted divine. Wine choices are very good with my favourite Gavi very reasonably priced. This will definitely be another regular added to my list. Advise booking as I was early walk in and the other tables were booked or quickly filled.

Four of us stayed in Holt for 3 nights and dinned at Il Calabrese on a sunny warm evening, the food was excellent, staff treated us as friends and allowed us to pass a relaxed evening enjoying superb pizzas and other dishes in a quiet atmosphere. Excellent.

We were staying in Holt on Friday night as we were going to a family wedding the next day. We needed somewhere for dinner and found Il Calabrese about 200 yards away from our rental cottage . What a find..!!Excellent food in a small very friendly restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere .There were 4 of us and we ordered several dishes to share which were all very good and we had 2 bottles of house wine (red/white) both were of good quality .The service was excellent we would recommend this place for a reasonably priced ,relaxed good quality dining experience.

In Holt on a short break, and fancied something near where we were staying for an early evening meal. First in, so quick and attentive service. Very nice food, good house red, and a yummo pudding. Thoroughly recommended, and we'll be back.

A very small but powerful restaurant, thoroughly enjoyed by all. There was a large table of around 10 so the restaurant staff asked for a pre-order, so impressed with the service, tasty food, drinks choice was good too. It got warm as it's quite small so asked to open a window which was not a problem, the staff were very friendly, accommodating and I will be recommending and going back again for sure.

Went with friends for coffees and ended up with Tiramisu as well ‍♂️ Following day headed in for a coffee and ended up with a great lunch snack.. Beware this place is going to damage my waistline ..Lovely friendly staff, great coffee and delicious treats ..Now to head back for dinner :D

This restaurant is off one of the main streets in Holt, so you do have to look for it as opposed to you'll walk by in passing and see it. It is only small, six tables so although we got a table midweek it might be worth phoning ahead and checking availability, it did get busy the evening we were in and all but one table for two was filled. The menu understandably is quite small but the choice is good, we had meatballs and gamberoni to start - both dishes were very nice, we both had pizzas for mains again very nice. Service was good, very friendly, and the food arrived quite quickly. If we return to Holt we will definitely revisit this restaurant.

In visita da amici in weekend a Norwich a fine febbraio dopo aver assaggiato il cibo inglese in diverse catene di food mondiali.. Si decide di fare un giro sulla costa , ci portano a pranzare in un locale a holt, la differenza era tanta perché non era il solito made in italy.. bandiera e colori, ma in questo locale si respira tanta passione italiana il signor robert un tipo molto simpatico gentile accogliente da genitori italiani, ci fa accomodare al nostro turno, Prendiamo due finalmente PIZZE.. grazie era come se fossimo in Italia il locale l’atmosfera l’accoglienza tutto... ma soprattutto la bontà dei prodotti..ottima birra frescaaa Wowww Complimenti e grazie siamo stati benissimo, prezzi molto in linea con gli altri locali. Lo consigli a tutti.

We booked a meal at Il Calabrese on the recommendation of family and couldn't have been more delighted with our evening there. Friendly from the start, we were made to feel welcome and thoroughly enjoyed the cozy atmosphere on a chilly March evening. Our mains were delicious, fresh and filling. We even shared a dessert (we normally skip) and were not disappointed. Lovely wine and service throughout. Cannot wait to return in a couple of weeks for a family birthday meal.

We had an evening meal at Il Calabrese last month. This was our first visit but friends had eaten here and had highly recommended it - and we agree with their assessment!The three of us all had different pizzas and each one tasted fantastic. We all had different desserts and these were scrummy too. Great value for money and great food - we'll be back.

I have bean to IL calabrese 5 times and coffee and dessert ar out this world and I give IL calabrese ***** star rating because it's has fantastic stuff

We had the most delicious lunch today, thank you. On a very wet morning we received a very warm welcome, wonderful linguine and prawns, highly recommend. Perfect coffee and excellent service.

We had lunch here and sampled some of the ‘small plate’ dishes. We had baked ravioli, meatballs and ciabatta with garlic. Very tasty and plenty for a light lunch. So much so, we did not have space for any of the delicious Italian deserts. Very friendly and prompt service, definitely worth a visit.

We always visit Holt Vinyl Lounge when on holiday in Norfolk, use the same car park and this time we noticed a new Italian bistro, called in for lunch and enjoyed linguini with meatballs, Linda had Pizza with slow cooked beef together with an orange cake for takeaway. Really nice lunch.

Pleasantly surprised by the small Itslian, tucked away off the main shopping area in Holt. Impressed that the menu marked the main allergens, making it easy to select suitable dishes. We chose the small dishes menu, sharing 5 between us. Good value.

What a great find. Properly delicious Italian food made to old family recipes. It’s a short menu so everything is done well. Friendly atmosphere. Shame we are not local but will definitely be back next time we are in north Norfolk.

Visited the IICalabrese restaurant for the first time this week,The cosy setting and friendly service made it an enjoyable eveningAll three meals two pasta and one risotto were exellent,as were the cappuccino.Perhaps the menu could be bigger, a special on different nights might be a good idea.Will return soon

My husband and I visited just for a cup of coffee on two occasions. The first time we entered the restaurant the waitress had her back to us and did not acknowledge us until my husband went to place our order. The coffee was average. On the second occasion we had a different waitress but we were still ignored. After ordering at the counter she brought two cappuccinos one with chocolate shavings. My husband ordered an expresso macchiato and she asked if this was right as she did not know what a macchiato is although it is on your menu. The coffees were too hot and bitter. These experiences deterred us from further visits.

We were excited to have lunch as we love Italian food and have missed an Italian pizza restaurant since Capri closed last year.We had pizzas, the place was fairly empty so they came in a timely manner and they were pretty tasty.We thought the place was really sweet, warm and inviting despite being the first in there. Keep going with the food and service and we hope you'll do really well. We imagined hiring this place for our son's birthday with his friends as they love pizza and it had a nice retro feeling about it with booths etc.

We love going out for breakfast when weekending in Holt and decided to give Il Calabrese a try. We weren't disappointed. The restaurant is small but perfectly formed - very nice decor and Italian opera playing. My scrambled egg and smoked salmon was attractively presented and came complete with lemon wedges and a pepper mill, and my sister enjoyed her egg benedict with parma ham and plenty of hollandaise. Our lattes were definitely up to Italian standards. Il Calabrese is clearly run with care and pride and we'll be back - probably to try out the yummy looking cakes next!

We had a lovely meal - both starter and main course were absolutely delicious, and served by friendly, helpful staff. Cosy, intimate setting. Looking forward to visiting again.

This cosy restaurant with tables outside on a small terrace is near a main car park in Holt. It has been open 3 months apparently but we tried it for the first time today 18th Sept. We chose the salmon and pea risotto at £9.95. Excellent and plenty of salmon on the plate. We followed this with a raspberry dessert cake at £2.50 and a chocolate orange mousse at £3 both were delicious. Good Italian coffee to follow.Highly recommend.

Dropped in here for lunch on the 1940's weekend and have to say the place was very nice.The staff all dressed up which was good, and the service was excellent.The food was also first class and sitting out in the sunshine watching the people walk by was a good added bonus.Will frequent again next time in Holt.

Shared a delicious pizza for lunch. Super topping and food base - yummy! Warm welcome and friendly service. We will be back. Thought the menu offers some interesting choices. We do recommend.

We ate here whilst on holiday in Holt. What a lovely find. Charming small restaurant with lovely atmosphere. Food amazing, best pizza ever and beef ragu was excellent. Cake for pudding was good and wine menu offered plenty of choice. Only criticism is the menu is a bit confusing the way it’s written. Good luck for the future, you’ve got a fantastic restaurant

Had an absolutely lovely evening, the food was amazing, service was excellent, will definitely be returning.

We were lucky enough to get a table on a Thursday evening because of a last minute cancellation. The welcome and service throughout our meal was exceptional and it’s clear that this is a family business that is really cared about. The pizzas were excellent, soft drinks at a really reasonable price, and the whole experience is one we would happily repeat again. It’s a very small restaurant but if you are after good pizzas, this is the place to go!

As a local person I would highly recommend this amazing little restaurant, we had the most wonderful evening. Amazing food, welcoming and extremely friendly staff. Simon the manager is a credit. I would recommend this to anyone, we will be back.

Firstly, I will say that the waitress was an absolute asset to thbis place. She is knowledgable, helpful and friendly, but, sadly, she was the highlight of our experience.We both had pizza,. We waited a very long time for the food, even though the place was not busy. The pizza crusts were very hard and some of it was pretty impossible to eat.The cheese was ok, but the tomato flavour tasted like nothing more than a tin of tomatoes being poured onto the dough; no herbs or other flavour at all. We were disappointed.

My friend and I were looking forward to trying this new venue as Italian eateries are in short supply locally. First impressions were promising. Approached through a courtyard with tables and chairs for about a dozen, the inside seats around 18, with decor which is stylish and understated, and refreshingly devoid of Gondola pictures and Chianti bottles. Whilst the restaurant itself is tiny, the kitchen appears to be minute, and here, perhaps lies the problem. The main courses on the dinner menu were uninspiring, with a choice of two pasta dishes and a small selection of pizzas. In contrast, the Breakfast and Lunch selections were more varied and appealing.We each chose a pizza and waited. And waited. And waited. After FIFTY MINUTES the waitress asked if we would like more drinks - I responded that we would prefer our food. Around five minutes later our pizzas appeared, accompanied by profuse apologies. There were no side salads offered on the menu but this may be because the table was so small that there was no room - our pizza plates were hanging over the edge. The pizzas were very crisp and well cooked but otherwise unexciting.Overall the evening was very disappointing. Such slow service is not acceptable; if it is not possible to produce the food more quickly the diners should at least be informed of the expected wait.On the frontage of the building Il Calabrese describes itself as a Cafe and Wine Bar and it would perhaps be better if it more closely resembled that, serving, for instance, tapas style small plates of ingredients which were prepared in advance, rather than freshly cooked pizzas for, potentially, more than twenty diners.

I made a reservation at Il Calabrese with high expectations and was not disappointed. Great staff, welcoming, friendly and efficient. We sat outside which was very pleasant and the food was DELICIOUS. Authentic ;) I highly recommend this little pocket of Italy.

We held a group dinner gathering here last night and had a wonderful time. Simon went out of his way to make a varied and delicious buffet style meal for us. The food is beautifully fresh and authentic Italian. The team could not of been more accommodating, even reorganising the space for us. Smiles, chat, great service! Absolutely fantastic addition to holt. GO EAT!!

A group of us met here last night and our host could not have been more helpfull.Food was so nice, freshly cooked beef and prawn dishes with garlic bread. Wonderful mozzarella salad and several different types of gourgous pizza.Such a nice place. I will go again

Visited here with friends on the 10th August. The staff were lovely. The food was delicious one of my friends had a pizza which was thin and crispy and looked delicious! My other friend and myself had beef in Ragu sauce with pasta. We were both pleasantly surprised that it was actual bits of beef steak rather than mince! Really enjoyed it! Be warned that the Restaurant is very small and booking is advisable and I'm not sure that they could accommodate larger parties, would say a group of 4 adults around a table would be about it! I had wine, my friends opted for soft drinks. I think you may be a little limited with drinks tho! All in all we enjoyed our meal but this isn't a place you can linger too long once you've eaten because someone else will possibly want your table.

I have visited on two occasions- firstly for an impromptu lunch with my husband and secondly for a well deserved girls’ night out! I had a sea bass dish on my lunchtime visit. The seabass was the perfect sized lunchtime meal. My husband had a chicken dish and he was equally as impressed. Off the back of my first visit, I suggested to a group of friends that it would be a wonderful venue for our upcoming girls’ night. I know I can speak for all my friends when I say that a fabulous evening was had by all. Our waiter helped us order because we explained that we wanted to try certain things on the menu and that we basically wanted an Italian feast coupled with some refreshing wine! He wasn’t phased by our indecisiveness and said he was happy to help! We had some wonderful taster dishes including meatballs, baked ravioli and spicy prawns and two pizzas too- which I can honestly say we’re the nicest pizzas I’d ever had. Needless to say- we will be returning!

Delicious pizzas and very reasonably priced drinks. We also had coffee and cakes for dessert which finished our meal off nicely. Open all day for drinks and cakes with seperate menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner which have set serving times. Seating available indoors and outside in a pleasant courtyard area without lots of passers by. Good choices for vegetarians and gluten free with clear labelling on the menu. Lunch choices included pizza, pasta and paninis. We will definitely be back next time we are in the area.

A fantastic evening with staff who went the extra mile. Thank you to Simon who provided phenomenal service to our party. Excellent food, atmospheric decor and music and for a few hours we were living the Italian dream! Hugely recommend!

We visited Il Calabrese for a well deserved night out and it certainly did not disappoint! The atmosphere was very 'Italian', with music to suit the venue and soft lighting so you can just sit back and enjoy!We received excellent customer service, the staff were welcoming, accommodating, friendly and recommended some wonderful food and wine from the menu. We enjoyed the slow cooked beef ragu pizza, baked raviolli and meatballs to name a few!Although the restaurant is small, its very cosy,decorated beautifully and you also have the option to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine we've been having! I would certainly visit again, its great to finally have an Italian restaurant in Holt,even if you don't go in for a meal at least have a pistachio cannoli with your coffee!

We had a fabulous evening and meal here last night. The service was fantastic, the food was gorgeous and the wine was flowing!! I can definitely recommend the beef ragu pizza! A wonderful new addition to Holt! We will be back! Many thanks 👏👌😀 xx

Having waited a long time for this restaurant to commence business, we had been fairly impressed by the exterior design and decor and had marked it "as worthy of a visit". The exterior belies the chic (=rather small) interior, although this is augmented by an outside area at the front of the restaurant, overlooking the car park. Nice in the summer weather and plenty to watch during the day, as visitors attempt to manoeuvre their 4x4s into the tiny parking bays!We received a warm welcome and this continued during the evening. We very much enjoyed our pasta dishes and the selection of torten was gratifying. The coffee was good and the hot chocolate wasn't a bad effort, bearing in mind the dire concoctions most places serve up. The nearest to the 'real thing' I have found in the Uk is from ASK (sorry!), but they do seem to have got it right.The menu is small. This is not a criticism, but rather to let you know there are not pages and pages of everything under the sun which so many restaurants feel we need to have. Should you go? Yes!Cautionary note: if you are going in the evening, check the opening times. Their hours are not consistent and this raises concerns about how much business they may be losing.