Alla Lanterna

A pretty Italian restaurant, looking more like a dining location of significance than other al fresco cafes on the same strip and we are recommended it by our tour guide. Its proximity to the cathedral, orthodox church and park are all good. Alla Lanterna features very good Italian food and well priced bottled beers, possibly delivering the most refreshing corona I have ever had. The occasional fly sweeps in to disrupt our meal and seating inside is a little warm. The majority of the crowd gathers in the seating outside listening to the cool jazz which floats through the venue. The place is bright and big portions are served up with a side of Italian dried herbs and red sauce. We recline in red backed booths before solid tables on wooden floors and wait impatiently for the bill. The feeling is relaxed, slow and nourishing but it hardly gets all the stars, mostly it is a bit expensive for novi but it is good for a big dinner and its not overcrowded.

Overall the ornate brick ceiling as arches feel like you are in an old underground train station, but the effect is pleasing and I can see why it was recommended to us - 7/10