Ask Italian - Southend-on-sea menù, Southend-on-Sea
Ask Italian - Southend-on-sea Southend-on-Sea - Menu
Bread & Nibbles
Italian Olives
Large green Nocellara olives from Sicily.
Spicy Nibbles
A crunchy mix of chickpeas, peas, corn and broad beans.
Rosemary and Olive Oil Bread
Add olive tapenade (v) or spicy tomato dip (v) for £1.00
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread with Mozzarella
Garlic Bread Speciale with Balsamic Onions
A folded garlic bread stuffed with mozzarella and riserva cheeses.
Starters
Antipasto Fritto
Mushrooms al forno, calamari, chicken lecca-lecca, dough sticks and zucchini fritte, served with a spicy tomato dip and garlic mayonnaise.
Antipasto Classico
Milano salami and coppa ham, fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola, rocket salad and rosemary & olive oil bread with smoked chilli jelly and olive tapenade.
Burrata Caprese
Creamier and more indulgent than mozzarella, burrata is served with plum tomatoes, rocket and basil.
Pea & Ricotta Souffle
Twice baked soufflé on a bed of spinach in a rich cheese sauce, served with warm dough sticks
Cheese Fonduta
Rich cheese fondue, crowned with a garlic and herb crumb, served with warm dough sticks. Dip dip hooray!
Spinach & Ricotta Arancini
Crispy ricotta and spinach risotto balls served with a spicy tomato dip.
Mixed Dough Balls
Choose between plain or fontal cheese and chilli, or try a mix. Served with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Whitebait for One
Lightly breaded and fried until golden, served with garlic mayonnaise. MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) approved.
Whitebait for Two
Lightly breaded and fried until golden, served with garlic mayonnaise. MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) approved.
Chicken Lecca-Lecca
Breaded chicken fillets served with a spicy tomato dip and garlic mayo.
Calamari For 2
Crispy golden-fried squid served with garlic mayonnaise.
Calamari
Crispy golden-fried squid served with garlic mayonnaise.
Bruschetta
Toasted pagnotta bread with marinated tomatoes, fresh basil and ricotta salata.
Meatballs Piccante
Pork and beef meatballs baked on Italian bread in a spicy tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella and mascarpone.
Butterfly King Prawns
Succulent king prawns, oven roasted on Italian bread with garlic and parsley.
Light Butterfly King Prawns
Oven roasted butterfly king prawns seasoned with lemon juice and Santos tomatoes, topped with rocket and yellow courgette ribbons.
Mushrooms Al Forno
Mushrooms stuffed with mozzarella and riserva cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic and onions, baked on Italian bread, served with garlic mayonnaise.
Minestrone Soup
Hearty soup with vegetables, chickpeas, cannellini beans and orzo pasta. Topped with a cheesy dumpling.
Pasta Fresca
Asparagus & Pancetta Carbonara
Crispy pancetta and asparagus in a velvety sauce made with mascarpone, pecorino and riserva cheeses.
Purple Basil Pesto Genovese w/Chx
Fresh egg tagliatelle in a green pesto and cream sauce, with fine green beans and pine nuts, topped with purple basil pesto - winner of Great Taste 2018 award. Add chicken for 1.95.
KING PRAWN & CRAYFISH
Succulent king prawns and crayfish in a creamy tomato and lobster bisque with a hint of chilli, topped with a large king prawn in its shell.
SAUSAGE & TRUFFLE INFUSED OLIVE OIL
Italian Luganica sausage in a creamy tomato and truffled mushroom sauce topped with mascarpone, smoked prosciutto and truffle infused olive oil.
Purple Basil Pesto Genovese
Fresh egg tagliatelle in a green pesto and cream sauce, with fine green beans and pine nuts, topped with purple basil pesto - winner of Great Taste 2018 award. Add chicken for 1.95.
Filled Pasta
Crab & Ricotta Half Moon Pasta
Filled pasta with crab and ricotta, in a creamy tomato and crab bisque. Topped with a large king prawn in its shell and fresh samphire.
Beef & Chianti Ravioli
Slow cooked beef and chianti ragu, dressed up for the occasion in this special charcoal black and white ravioli; served with a red wine sauce.
Spinach & Ricotta Girasole
Meaning 'sunflower', these pretty pasta parcels are served with spinach and a mascarpone cream sauce.
Four Cheese Ravioli & Beef Ragu
A long ravioli filled with pockets of four cheese, oven baked on top of a rich beef ragu.
Al Forno
Lasagne
Green egg pasta sheets with beef and pork ragu, topped with creamy béchamel sauce.
GO GRANDE With beef meatballs, coppa ham, extra ragu and cheese 3.50.
Penne Manzo Piccante
Rigatoni pasta with beef meatballs, beef and pork ragu, fresh chillies, roasted peppers and balsamic red onions; topped with mozzarella.
Sausage Cannelloni
Cannelloni filled with a hearty beef and pork sausage ragu, baked in a tomato and basil sauce and topped with mascarpone.
Penne Pollo Della Casa
Seasoned chicken breast, mushrooms and pasta baked in a creamy mushroom and white wine sauce.
Classic Pasta
Fettuccine Bolognese
Our hearty beef and pork ragu sauce is served with flat ribbon fettuccine, they way they eat it in Rome. If you prefer, you can choose spaghetti.
Penne Arrabiata Con Pollo
Chicken breast in a fiery rich tomato and basil sauce. Make it veggie without chicken 9.00.
Spaghetti al Pomodoro
Plum tomatoes, garlic and basil in a rich tomato sauce topped fresh mozzarella.
Spaghetti Lentil Ragu (Vegan)
A hearty ragu of green lentils and mixed vegetables in a rich sundried tomato sauce.
Linguine Carbonara
Crispy pancetta in a rich creamy sauce with mascarpone, pecorino and riserva cheese.
Linguine con Frutti di Mare
King prawns, mussels, clams and squid in a rich tomato sauce.
Risotto
Risotto con Pollo e Funghi
Risotto with tender chicken breast slices and sautéed mushrooms in a creamy white wine sauce.
Prima
Two Egg Fiorentina
Two soft-baked free range eggs, spinach, olives, mozzarella and mascarpone cheese. Add coppa ham for 1.95.
Caprina
Goat’s cheese, rocket, plum tomatoes and olive tapenade and mozzarella.
Super Green Vegan
A pea purée base topped with tender baby kale, asparagus, peas, red pepper pearls, spinach, balsamic red onions and vegan mozzarella alternative.
Slow Cooked Lamb
Tender lamb shoulder, fontal cheese, roasted peppers, spinach, balsamic red onions onions and pine nuts.
Salami Misti
Milano and fennel salami, pepperoni and smoked prosciutto, roasted peppers and balsamic red onions.
Pollo Piccante Pancetta
Seasoned chicken breast, pancetta, roasted peppers, red chillies, mushrooms, spinach, rosemary and fontal cheese.
Salsiccia
Fiery Calabrian N'duja sausage meat, roquito pepper pearls, balsamic red onions and fontal cheese. We'll add chillies if you like it hotter.
Tomato and mozzarella with Oregano. Make it Prima 10.00.
Four Cheese Margherita
Sweet dreams are made of cheese - mascarpone, mozzarella, fontal and riserva cheese on a tomato base. Make it Prima 12.00.
Stromboli
Pepperoni on a tomato and mozzarella base. We'll add chillies if you like it hot. Make it Prima 12.00.
Verdure
Artichokes, mushrooms, roasted peppers, fontal cheese and olives dressed with rocket leaves. Make it Prima 11.45.
Pollo e Funghi
Chicken and sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and mozzarella. Make it Prima 12.45.
Sides
Rainbow Salad
Candy stripe beetroot, yellow courgettes, plum tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, mixed leaves, radish and a citrus dressing on the side.
Mixed Salad
Zucchine Fritte
Lightly battered courgette sticks.
Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries
Skinny cut fries, served with a spicy tomato dip.
Chips
Served with garlic mayonnaise.
Garlic & Cheese Chips
Chips with garlic and grated fontal cheese. Served with garlic mayonnaise.
Creamed Spinach
Creamy spinach topped with herby breadcrumbs.
Meat & Fish
Pollo Milanese
Breaded butterfly chicken breast, seasoned and roasted. Served with roasted new potatoes or chips, broccoli, and a creamy mushroom sauce.
Pork Belly Porchetta
A Tuscan classic: slow-roasted pork belly in herbed red wine sauce, served with roasted new potatoes and broccoli.
Seabass al Forno
Sea bass fillet baked with new potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and a white wine sauce.
Slow Cooked Beef In Chianti Sauce
Beef shin and shallots slow cooked in rich Chianti red wine sauce with a cheesy dumpling. Topped with our rosemary & olive oil bread and served with a side of broccoli.
Lighter Dishes
Pasta Fresca Light Asparagus & Pancetta Carbonara
Crispy pancetta and asparagus in a velvety sauce made with mascarpone, pecorino and riserva cheese, with a rainbow salad.
Pasta Fresca Light Purple Basil Pesto Genovese
Green pesto and cream sauce, with fine green beans. Topped with purple basil pesto – winner of a Great Taste 2018 award, with a rainbow salad.
Pasta Fresca Light Purple Basil Pesto Genovese w/Chicken
Green pesto and cream sauce, with fine green beans. Topped with purple basil pesto – winner of a Great Taste 2018 award, with a rainbow salad.
Prima Light Pizza Caprina
Goat's cheese, rocket, plum tomatoes, olive tapenade and mozzarella, with a rainbow salad.
Prima Light Pizza Pollo Piccante con Pancetta
Seasoned chicken breast, pancetta, roasted peppers, red chillies, mushrooms, spinach, rosemary and mozzarella, with a rainbow salad.
Salads
Chicken Kale Caesar Salad
Pan-fried chicken breast, tender baby kale, cos lettuce, radicchio, in a Caesar dressing topped with ciabatta croutons and riserva cheese.
Insalata di Pollo e Pancetta
Pan-fried chicken breast and crispy pancetta, served with avocado, tomatoes, spinach, cos lettuce and red onion with sweet mustard dressing.
Mediterranean Goat's Cheese Salad
Goat’s cheese and balsamic onion crostinis, on tender baby kale, cos lettuce, artichokes, plum tomatoes and red pepper pearls, tossed in a citrus dressing.
Desserts
White Chocolate Parfait
A smooth white chocolate parfait served with a cascading sour cherry shimmer sauce, cream and crumble.
Yoghurt Panna Cotta
A lighter take on a classic made with yoghurt and cream, dressed with raspberries, strawberries and an edible flower.
Baked Chocolate Gnocchi
Italian for dumplings, these mini chocolate gnocchi are filled with Nutella and served with chocolate sauce on the side to dip and dunk.
Blood Orange and Chocolate Tart
Zesty dark chocolate tart served with tangy raspberry sorbet.
Passion Fruit & Raspberry Cheesecake
Passion fruit and raspberry cheesecake on a biscuit base, drizzled with tangy passion fruit sauce, served with vanilla gelato.
Honeycomb Cheesecake
Creamy cheesecake on a cookie base, sprinkled with crunchy honeycomb chocolate pieces. Served with a scoop of vanilla gelato.
Warm Cookie & Salted Caramel Gelato
Calling all salted caramel lovers, our warm cookie is topped with two scoops of salted caramel gelato ad salted caramel sauce.
Warm Pear Tart
Poached pear on a base of almond frangipane on shortcrust pastry, served warm with raspberries and vanilla gelato.
Chocolate Etna
Hot toffee sauce is poured over the dark chocolate cup at your table, revealing a hidden scoop of vanilla gelato on top of a heavenly hot chocolate fondant.
Pistacchio & Olive Oil Cake
Winner of a Great Taste award, this deliciously moist and nutty cake is served warm with vanilla gelato.
Coffee and a Little Slice of Cake
Enjoy any regular hot drink with a thin slice of our Pistachio and Olive Oil Cake (V) or our Blood Orange and Chocolate Tart (V).
Rhubarb & Custard Ravioli
Pink pasta pockets filled with rhubarb. Served on vanilla custard, topped with rhubarb compote, crumble and extra custard on side.