San Marco Ristorante & Pizzeria

You can find San Marco Ristorante and Pizzeria, one of the five charming restaurants that The San Marco Group has to offer, situated along the A59 in Much Hoole, Preston. Family owned, by The Braganini Family, and run for almost 30 years, the restaurants have a strong emphasis on providing the very best Italian food and wine.

First impressions of San Marco, fashion a modern, bright and relaxing ambience, with the choice to dine inside or out. A welcoming smile led us to a table for two, perfectly positioned by the French doors, carefully placed ajar and allowing the warm summer breeze to flow through the restaurant.

A range of specials alongside a traditional yet modern menu, provided a plethora of picks. Whether it be pasta, pizza, oysters or steak, you are literally spoiled for choice, and deciding on what to eat isn’t for the irresolute. We opted for the lunchtime menu, where you can enjoy 2 courses for £14.80 or 3 courses for £18.90, Mon-Fri 12-2pm. Other available menus include the a la carte and set party alternatives.

When San Marco first opened in 2008; fresh and where possible, locally sourced seafood was a key focus on the menu. This continues to be the case and we couldn’t resist ordering the Colchester oysters. In addition, and to follow a Williams salad, we opted for the Pollo Boscaiola and a ribeye steak, cooked medium /rare, which were both served with impeccably cooked vegetables and potatoes. Quality produce and inventive recipes helped create these well-presented and scrumptious dishes, which promptly arrived leaving an apt amount of time in-between courses.

The sun was out, and the jury was in, which meant only one thing – a third course was to be relished, to complete a hattrick of superb plates. We selected the mixed berry meringue nest and the lemon crunch cheesecake. The meringue was crispy yet chewy and the accompanying compote was sweet yet torte. The melt in your mouth cheesecake was moreish, tangy and the perfect way to cleanse your palate. Of course, these were only two of the several delectable desserts on offer. Other options include a traditionally Italian tiramisu, sticky toffee pudding and a variety of ice creams.

Should you wish to really take your time, a calming and intimate waiting area and bar, provides an inviting introduction to your visit. With many wines beers and spirits available, it was only fair to try one or two. A preferred white wine would be Sauvignon Branko at £25 a bottle. It was served ice cold and hinted aromas of florals and spices – a seamless accompaniment to the chicken main. With the salad and steak, a Rosso Il Carpino at £29 a bottle, complimented the flavours nicely. The 18-24 month aged red, is a combination of 80% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon.

All in all and delighted to say, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at San Marco and would highly recommend going. An absolute 10/10.

Open: Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm, 6pm -10.30pm

           Sat and Sun – Open all day from 12noon

Car Parking Available. Disabled Access. Free WIFI.

Indoor / Outdoor Dining. Parties Welcome. Reservations. Child Friendly.

Written by Leyla Jama