DINERS now have a feast of options to eat out in Yate and Italian chain Prezzo is leading the town’s food revolution.

Just weeks ago Yate had only one dedicated restaurant in the shopping centre and pubs or Indians offering the only other dining experience.

But with a £25million cinema development, in the form of Yate Riverside on Link Road, comes three new restaurants already open – well-known chains Prezzo, Nando’s and Frankie and Benny’s.

We sampled what 126-seater restaurant Prezzo has to offer.

THERE are many Italian chain restaurants on every High Street the length and breadth of the country. Bella Italia, Pizza Express, Zizzi to name but a few so Prezzo has a tough job persuading diners used to travelling out of town to stay in Yate.

Certainly if the restaurant’s stylish and modern décor is anything to go by, Prezzo is already winning. It has a relaxed feel with plenty of padded booth-style seats as well as family tables and secluded tables for two. A large circular bar in the centre draws diners’ attention to the wines and coffees on offer and also serves to hide some sections of the restaurant from others, a welcome addition which means you don’t end up staring at everyone else eating.

Chefs cook pizzas in a wood-fired oven in view of customers, a common method in Prezzo’s competitors.

On arrival in pouring rain, we were made to feel very welcome and with two children in tow, not always a given even at chain restaurants even with children’s menus, and had a highchair ready as our booking had requested.

There were few others eating while we there but the waiting staff did not bombard us and we weren’t made to feel we had to rush ordering.

Starters arrived promptly and looked tempting served on sleek rectangular plates. My mozzarella in carrozza (mozzarella in breadcrumbs with a Pomodoro sauce) was fresh, filling and impeccably presented while my partner’s pulled pork pizzette (fennel-infused pork, tomato, mozzarella and sweet roquito chilli peppers on a baked flatbread) blended melt-in-the-mouth meat with sweet spiciness.

I was hungry so for main opted for the Vesuvio pizza (double pepperoni) which our waitress helpfully advised me to try with red chilli rather than very hot chilli peppers. A crisp thin base was packed with pepperoni and oozing mozzarella and despite me first thinking I would be beaten, almost all of it was devoured.

Both my partner and daughter enjoyed a classic carbonara, served piping hot and with plenty of grated parmesan, both of which defeated them (the children’s menu comes with three courses and a drink for £6.50).

All of us tucked into one slice of the thigh-enhancing salted caramel arctic slice, a stack of sponge, frozen honeycomb, cream and caramel which was totally worth all those calories. We also ordered the children’s version of a sweet calzone, pizza dough stuffed with banana and hazelnut spread, served with ice cream which I had wanted to try for some time and it certainly lived up to my expectations. The mix of chocolate and banana in a dough is reminiscent of pancake night as a child myself and gave me a satisfied smile, and a very full belly.

The addition of a glass of crisp and dry Pinot Grigio, as recommended by the waitress, made for a perfect filling family meal.

Prezzo offers plenty of space for group bookings as well as intimate dining experiences and with the care of serving staff and attention to details of the chefs, it will no doubt soon be a bustling restaurant helping Yate to rival dining destinations out of town.