The restaurant are back with a new al fresco terrace and summer menu
Italian restaurant Tropea are officially back open with a brand new summer menu following their refurbishment.
Tropea (pronounced Tro-Pey-Ah) is inspired by the small town on the Calabrian coast, with its menu taking its influence from all over Italy. Tropea is the brainchild of Ben Robinson Young and Kasia Piatkowska, who both graduated in Culinary Arts from the University College Birmingham in 2014. The menu is made up of small plates, designed to share, including antipasti, fresh pastas, seafood and regional specialities. A mostly, but not exclusively, Italian drinks list including wines from regions all over the country is also available.
Tropea’s refurbishment saw the cafe side of the business close to allow more focus on the restaurant menu, with future plans for a lunch offering. Tropea now has brand new Crittall-style windows across its frontage and a branded awning to provide shade for al-fresco diners. New banquettes, which feature a colour palette set to complement the colours of Tropea reflected in the restaurant’s branding, have provided additional covers inside. There are further nods to the brand’s colours woven throughout the new tiling around the bar.
The menu for summer 2022 includes a range of new dishes designed to showcase the fresh, seasonal ingredients, many of which are imported from Italy, alongside staple dishes for the restaurant.
New dishes include the Tuna Crudo, Culatta Cured Ham with Red Sicilian Melon, Braised Galician Octopus with Crispy Potatoes, Tomato, Black Olive and Saffron Aioli, Crostini of Wild Red Prawn with Citrus Mayonnaise and Pink Grapefruit, Ravioli Stuffed with Ricotta and Lemon with Pistachio Pesto and Fresh Herbs and Grilled Calabrian Peppers with Garlic and Olive Oil.
The antipasti menu includes Rosemary Focaccia with Semi-Dried Sweet Tomato, Giardiniera (House-Made Seasonal Pickles), Mixed Italian Olives with Garlic and Lemon (served warm), Burrata with Pickled and Fresh Strawberries, Basil Oil and Black Pepper, Culatta Prosciutto with Sicilian Red Melon and 12 year old Balsamic, Fried Courgette Flowers with Goat’s Cheese and Local Honey, and Crispy Bocconcini (Baby Buffalo Mozzarella) with Datterini Tomato Jam.
Pasta dishes on offer include Pici with Wild Boar Ragu and 24-month Parmesan and Tagliatelle with Smoked Eel, Parsley and Lemon.
The Meat and Fish section offers Rolled Lamb Shoulder with Samphire, Salsa Verde and Confit Lemon, Pork and Beef Meatballs Stuffed with Tallegio Cheese and Mussels ‘Calabrese’ with ’Nduja, White Wine and Tomato.
To round off, the Vegetables and Salads dishes include Aubergine Parmigiana, Wye Valley Asparagus with Pecorino, Lemon Vinaigrette and Black Pepper and Orange and Fennel Salad with Rocket, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and Citrus Dressing.
Ben Robinson Young, owner of Tropea, said, “We are excited to be back open and to reveal our new space. It’s great to be able to share the new menu alongside the interior. We hope our visitors enjoy our new al fresco terrace and can experience a taste of Tropea.”
Tropea is now open. Initial opening hours will be 5.00 pm – 11pm, Tuesday to Saturday. There are plans to open on Monday nights and for lunch, later in the week, in the future.
Bookings for Tropea can be made through their website: https://www.tropea.uk/restaurant#booking