Perla Nera in County Durham

Recently visited Perla Nera for an evening meal. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The Christmas decorations are lovely and tasteful. We had bruschetta which was so tasty. Garlic mushroom and a black pudding and pepper sauce to start. All were cooked to perfection the pepper sauce was stunning. For main course we had a chicken in pepper sauce and a carbonara which again both were beautiful. The chips and veg with the chicken were lovely. Homemade chips and the veg was sautéed in butter and was fresh and crisp so nice. I had a coffee after which was beautiful, you can’t beat Italian coffee and my husband had sticky toffee pudding which was beautiful he said and was convinced was made fresh in the restaurant and not bought in. The staff really are attentive without being overbearing and are extremely friendly. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough and we will definitely be back. Thank you so much Eli and team keep up the fantastic work. We had heard about your reputation before we came and can 100% see why you are so highly regarded. Thank you.

Great restaurant. The best I’ve ever been with my family. Great food and great service. The fillet was amazing and the wine was real Italian wine.

Very beautiful place and food Great service very friendly staff and beautiful food Fantastic experience here for family and couples aswell

Me and my family come here often but don’t review it on here. Highly recommend the food is fresh and amazing. My husband likes fish and i love bolognese pizza. The staff are extra helpful and nice.

Lovely authentic Italian food, friendly staff and great atmosphere. We were on a short break and ate here twice as it was so good. The food was delicious both times. Prices were extremely reasonable but there is also a happy hour menu till 6pm which is excellent value, especially for families.

What can I say absolutely first class service and food again, Crook should be proud to have such a fine dining restaurant that ticks all the boxes. If you have'nt tried it its worth making the effort.

First time we have used this restaurant, we tried it for a takeaway OMG absolutely delicious. We had Chicken Alfredo and Tiramisu. Will definitely be booking to go to sit in and will use this restaurant again for takeaways as well.

We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful food and the service by very pleasant and attentive staff. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and clean. However, our visit was spoilt by other visitors who thought shouting to friends on a table further away is acceptable. Not to mention talking very loudly to their children and allowing them to run riot. Seemingly, this is the sort of clientèle who often visit so we won't be back unfortunately.

We booked for Christmas Day lunch in this wonderful Italian restaurant and it was fabulous. We had a good choice of dishes on the special menu- but went for the traditional Turkey. In true Italian fashion we were very well fed! Appetisers on arrival and a welcome drink. Our table was attractively laid and the restaurant was beautifully decorated. All the staff were very welcoming and friendly but also very efficient. Indeed the owners made a point of checking that all their diners were happy. The food was delicious and very plentiful. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals as did our friends around us. It was certainly a highlight of our Christmas.

Christmas dinner. What can I say. Amazing from start to finish. Walked in the restaurant to fantastic additions to an already beautifully decorated restaurant. Welcome drink in a lovely flute, complimentary which was lovely. Followed by complimentary appetisers which were beautifully presented. Starters were served promptly and were Judy divine, in taste and amount. Main course followed soon after and was delightful, perfectly cooked food, no skimping on the portion size, finally desert finished us off nicely. We were not rushed through out meals and staff were very attentive and helpful all through out. Would recommend to anyone in a large party as the service was A*, well done Perla Nera.

I am a regular customer at this restaurant, and when I found out that my family would be coming from Australia to celebrate Christmas together after so many years I didn't think twice about taking them to Perla Nera. We were amazed since we walked in, the restaurant was beautifully decorated, the food was amazing and the service was lovely. Thank you so much for making us have a fantastic Christmas.

I spent an unforgettable Christmas day in this restaurant. Laughter, good food and a great atmosphere. The turkey was delicious. Thank you so much to all the staff for the extraordinary effort they made today. Buon Natale 🎄

Christmas lunch here today was completely lacklustre, welcome drink in a plastic flute set the tone for the rest of the meal, there was a complimentary sharing board, which was a nice gesture, however the food in it was tasteless, the waitress didn’t say what it was, and we couldn’t tell what it was! Starters were Burrata with roasted veg, the veg was cold, I was expecting nice warm veg, it appeared to be bought in, rather than home cooked. The main course (Turkey) had herbs sprinkled over, which spoiled the meal, I’ve had herbs on European cuisine, but not on a Christmas lunch. The stuffing balls were dry and burnt as was the Yorkshire pudding, the Roast potatoes were dry and soft, the Cheesecake pudding was the best part of the meal, first time in 40 years we have had Xmas lunch out, and we were disappointed to say the least. We have had Italian food here which was lovely, we will stick to that in the future!

What a lovely restaurant. We had a great evening, from the welcome at the door to the food served. Stand out dishes were the chicken in gorgonzola sauce and a dessert from the specials board - profiteroles. They were the best profiteroles I've ever had - really light, and smothered in chocolate creamy sauce. Please add them to the main menu! Yummy! Definitely a great place, hidden away in the market town of Crook.

such a beautiful restaurant. the food is delicious and the portions are very generous. the staff are lovely and will cater for gluten free and babies. would recommend to everyone!

Lovely atmosphere and food delicious at reasonable prices. Staff very friendly and helpful. 2nd time here and a visit organised for next month.

A group of 16 had an early evening meal, and every dish was of excellent quality. Not one complaint of any sort, which is impressive! The service was super friendly and efficient too. Worthy of special note are the lasagne, pizzas, and the superb (enormous) chocolate profiteroles, served with mango sorbet. A dream of a dessert! The perfect spot for a get together with family or friends.

This restaurant is amazing the servers are very welcoming and the food is absolutely amazing would recommend to everyone!

This little place will take some beating for everything. From the moment you walk in you are greeted with a friendly smile and hello, the place is spotless, food beautiful, choice great, and all at very reasonable prices. We went as three couples having never been before and there is no doubt about it we will be back soon. Great staff, great owner, Keep up the good work. Oh and the taste of that food OMG perfect. cheers

Having been to numerous Italian restaurants in County Durham you would have to go a long way to find Italian Cuisine better than this. When you sit down real linen white napkins and white linen table cloths as well as great friendly service leads to a great evening out. The steaks are a must have finished with a limoncello what’s not to love

This was a special occasion - a retirement party. It was a large party and we had excellent service. We had pre-ordered our meals and everything went like clockwork. All the food was delicious and beautifully presented. The staff were amazing. All the guests were most impressed with this wonderful restaurant.

The best Italian food I ever had ! Great service, The staff were all very helpful and friendly. I suggest Perla nera pasta with prawns and half kilo ribeye on the bone

Absolutely top class service and food again never disappoints would definitely recommend to anyone wanting that something special factor

This was our first visit - we were welcomed on arrival and shown to our table, and throughout the staff were really helpful and friendly. We ordered starter and mains, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. The portions were generous, well cooked and well presented. The salmon in butter sauce looked amazing. On to desserts, and we all enjoyed those too - the tiramasu was really wonderful. A great meal, we chatted with our friends and weren't at all rushed. We'll certainly be back.

This was our 3rd visit and we will be back again. The food is amazing me and my wife always get food envy at this restaurant as no matter what dish we choose it is so good that you want to try all the others. The service is excellent from the point of booking to when you leave. It is a hidden gem

This place is an absolute gem !! Food is delicious and excellent value for money, would absolutely recommend and we will be back soon. Thanks again

Was staying in Crook for work and had dinner at Perla Nera twice as it was so good! The pasta and pizza were both excellent and staff so friendly!

Perla Nera was recommended to me so I booked for a group of four. The food was amazing, staff courteous and attentive. Portion sizes generous which meant I was unable to finish my chicken main. We intend to return, wonderful restaurant

As always, a lovely meal. Eli, Aurelio & Andreas provide a welcoming environment with food that cannot be found in the city of Durham .... fresh (never frozen) scallops. Highly recommended

This is a little gem! The staff are always happy & pleasant...nothing is too much trouble ...ever! I have never seen octopus legs in any of the supposed "up-market" restaurants in Durham, yet here they are in Crook! They were simply delicious! Thank you Aurelio,...

Staff are always welcoming & the food is always good. Tell me where in Durham, let alone Crook, I can choose from fresh scallops, razor clams, crevettes, lobster & recently the most delicious grilled octopus legs....all at a much more reasonable price than any of...

Beautiful venue, crisp, clean and oozing with class. Immediate sensory welcome upon arrival, aromas of amazing food being produced in the open, immaculate kitchen; followed by friendly welcomes from knowledgeable and professional staff. Unreal service, you won't find this standard elsewhere within 10 miles! The...

Nice interior, we welcomed by very friendly staff, the food here was lovely. We ordered off the early bird menu, good portion sizes for the price, really nice. I will be returning

Been a couple of times and couldn't be more impressed with the food and the service. Brilliant restaurant in Crook!

Its hard to believe gem like that is in Crook. We visited this place 4 times already and every time was amazing. Fresh food, large portions and super helpful and professional staff.

beautiful place, very clean and inviting the food was amazing and the staff was nice and friendly will definitely be returning

I can’t believe we had never been here before, right on our doorstep! Amazing food, good service and lovely staff, can’t wait to visit again 😊

I recently dined there with family. On entering I found the restaurant to be very clean and with a pleasant atmosphere, and also a lovely cooking smell ! The food was presented nicely and was hot and delicious. We also found the waiter to be...

Our first evening out for food in what seems like a very long time (child free) was just perfect. So pleased we have found this lovely restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service. From walking through the door to dessert, we felt...

Went for a birthday celebration with family and friends (7 of us). Loved the clean linen tablecloths and napkins. Good food selection. The lady that served us was friendly and professional. The food was average but big portions. The garlic breads were dry and the...

Visited a month ago with friends and in total 3 children under ten. Was exceptional then. Visited again last night just us and our child. Food again superb, staff were as last time friendly and excellent. I have recommended it to all my friends and...

If you like Italian. Eat here and you’ll only want Italian We tried it and came back 3 times in a month and will keep on An amazing menu The specials board is great and changes constantly I had the oysters and they were the...

the best restaurant not only in crook but in the entire country Durham, excellent service and food, welcoming and suggestive atmosphere, simply unique

The food was lovely and the portions were extremely generous. We all took food home in boxes. Very friendly and helpful staff.

We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Perla Nera; the food was amazing and our server, Nicole, was extremely professional and attentive. Thank you so much!

We came here before lockdown and have been looking forward to returning. We ordered pizzas and pasta. The service was as good as we remembered. The restaurant is owned by a lovely Italian couple, who remembered us from so long ago. We will definitely return...

Been here a few times. Food is always beautiful. Staff are really nice great prices will be back again.

Razor clams & lobster in Crook! A lovely down to earth Italian trattoria... good , fresh food beautifully cooked. Now our restaurant of choice!

Been today for Sunday lunch wow delicious I have to say! Unbelievable value in a lovely welcoming friendly restaurant 😀 can't wait for my next visit xx

Third visit last night, every single time We have been so impressed! Decor, wine, service and beautiful food! Always made to feel so very welcome. Lovely open kitchen, fresh food and a huge variety to choose from. Last night we both had starters from the...

Just visited today (Thursday lunchtime) with my nephew for the first time but he has been many times and I have to say what beautiful food, wonderful service and clean cosy and welcoming. I love this restaurant and so pleased its on my doorstep 😘...

Exceptional service, food really good...I didn't expect to find razor clams on the menu in Crook...they were delicious! The service can't be faulted, friendly & efficient. We will be back!

Having only visited Perla Nera for the first time a matter of weeks ago, it has sharp became our go to place. The service, the wine, the food, all exceptional. Love the fact that we told Eldi our favourite Italian dishes and in the coming...

Well sometimes in life you find a place that makes you feel so welcome and get great enjoyment in there. This is that place the service is amazing the food is authentic and amazing produce. The menu is varied but the special board is worth...