FOOD & DRINK

Limone Sicilian kitchen brings something fresh to Hoddesdon

Ten years ago this June the Bondi family from Hoddesdon opened their first restaurant, Cibo, in Bishop’s Stortford, which is still going strong.

But, as Melissa Baranowski, one of the two sisters who run the business on a day to day basis, admits, they have also always wanted to open one in their own home town if the right premises became available.

Towards the end of last year that dream came true when Melissa and her sister Laura Bondi were able to open Limone, a Sicilian kitchen based in the premises previously occupied by Zagara Italian restaurant.

And since that opening, the community of Hoddesdon have truly welcomed them.

Don’t miss 20% off lunch offer for Axis readers this month

During the month of February, Limone is making a special offer to Axis readers – with 20 per cent off food at lunchtimes from Tuesday to Friday between 12 and 3pm (excluding the £13 lunch menu) – see advert on page opposite for full details. Please mention offer when ordering.

It is not hard to see why – the attention to detail the two sisters have put into their substantial revamp of the High Street premises is clear, from the personally designed, bespoke crockery that was decorated and handmade in Italy and shipped over specially (arriving just in time for the opening!) to the layout of the various areas inside the restaurant, including the Aperitivo Bar with its very Instagrammable wall, the Lemon Room, the Terrazza and the Olive Room which is also available for private dining. So popular has the restaurant become already in fact that regulars from Cibo have made the journey across to Hoddesdon to try out the new venue and, following a two-week closure at the start of January for a holiday, there was a queue of people outside the door on reopening day!

Limone has certainly brought something fresh to Hoddesdon. It has a seasonally changing menu of Sicilian and Italian classics with a modern twist, including pizza and pasta, and both vegan and gluten-free menus are available. Pescatarians are also well catered-for; seafood being a huge part of Sicilian food. There is a set lunch menu with two courses for just £13 from 12-4pm daily and a happy hour with two for one cocktails in the Aperitivo Bar from 3-5pm Tuesday to Friday when sharing plates can also be enjoyed. All dishes are made fresh from scratch, with pizza dough and bread made on the premises and produce comes from top quality Italian suppliers.

The wine list is made up of exclusively Sicilian and Italian wines and there are also some selected Sicilian beers.

Limone is open five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday from 12noon with the kitchen closing at 10pm. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Takeaway is available – both for collection and for delivery through GoGetters.

Limone

109-111 High Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8TN 01992 466677 limonesiciliankitchen.co.uk