Opened two months ago, Eat Italy located smack opposite Odel in Mount Lavinia is one cool, cosy, casual place to indulge in some wholesome homemade Italian food. 

Walking into the restaurant it is the retro feel with bright lights and a bright red wall accompanied by Italian pop music that sets the stage for a chilled out evening while the restaurant’s owner, Sam, his wife Mimma Cozzolino and their adorable and friendly son, Sam Jr who are the true stars in making your time here memorable. 

An architect by profession, Mimma always had a passion for cooking healthy and wholesome food at home and this is what she serves you at her restaurant. Sam has been living in Italy for 35 years (a lifetime if you ask me!) but has returned to Sri Lanka for a few years as he felt it was important that his son gets to know his Sri Lankan relatives. Having spent around seven months here, he felt they needed to do something... and that something was Eat Italy. 

Taste and value for money – 5 stars 

Before I get to the rest of the food I must start with the pizzas which are made from scratch using naturally grown dough or dough which is allowed to ferment naturally. This process takes a month and what it means is that no artificial yeast is used. We tried the Eat Italy (Rs 1,500) which is a seafood pizza with the usual tomato sauce base topped with loads of mozzarella and a delicious green sauce. There is a clearly defined difference in eating such pizza as it feels lighter on your tummy while Sam is generous with his toppings. 

When you sit at your table Sam or a member of his staff will offer you a refreshing granita. On the day we went the flavour was watermelon. 

On to the starters and in our case we had the Bruschetta (Rs 300). The base was traditional Sri Lankan roast paan which was really fabulous as it allowed all the flavours of the fresh tomato, basil and a subtle hint of coriander to soak up well. Mimma also adds loads of olive oil which gives it that perfect balance! 

A must try is their homemade Fettuccine of which the Mixed Seafood (Rs 900) comes highly recommended. The copious amounts of perfectly cooked seafood in a delicious tomato sauce, coupled with the fresh pasta make it stunning dish. 

Their Lasagna (Rs 800) is also simply spot on with lovely soft sheets of pasta, a generous helping of meat and cheese, make it a delectable dish. 

If you like your dish to have that spicy kick, you can request for a side of their homemade chilli sauce made using basil, olive oil, olives and chilli of course. 

To sum it all up, the food here is as real as it gets with no frills, no artificial flavours, just natural, wholesome and so very tasty while the portions are large. 

Toilets – 3.5 stars 

Clean and dry but a bit of a musky feel possibly due to the restaurant being located close to the ocean. 

Friendly staff – 5 stars 

The staff are polite and friendly while they have the ability to guide you through the menu. 

Note : There are no taxes or service charge so you are not left with any surprises at the end of your meal. 

Parking – 3 stars 

There are three slots for parking by the restaurant itself if not you may have to park on the lanes opposite the restaurant and walk up. 

Hours of operation : 1 to 10pm (Monday to Sunday) 
Address : 273, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia 
Tel : 076-916-2065 
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eat-Italy/516534625181007?fref=ts 

By Natasha Fernandopulle
Photographs by Kanishke Ganewatte