EAT : Review of Franks Pasta and Wine Bar, Dundee

I am going to gush about Franks all the way through this post. I’ve announced my love for Franks on social media and you know how it goes - if its on social media, then it must be true! Well in this case it 100% is.

Franks wine and pasta bar sits very unobtrusively on the corner of Nethergate and Couttie’s Wynd in Dundee city centre. It’s decor is soft sophistication with small nods to traditional Italian eateries with a chequered floor and round marble tables with a glint of gold adding to old time Italian glam. The colour palatte is soft too with baby blue banquette seating, exposed brick work and lots of greenery. All I’ll say is, you’ll love it and you’ll be comfortable.

REVIEW OF FRANKS WINE AND PASTA BAR, DUNDEE

The menu is small but perfectly formed. This is a pasta bar and thats exactly what you’ll get. The menu is a 5-7-2 split of Antipasti (starters), Pasta (mains) and desserts. No point in turning the menu over as this is all you will find here. No pizza. No calzone. No Spaghetti Bolognese. Only the best, freshest, most delicious plates of Italian food that I have had outside Italy!

We chose two antipasti to share and we are so glad we did; the combination of these two dishes was simply stunning. 2 weeks later and I am still drooling over this.

Focaccia and oils (£5.25) and the Burrata with rocket pesto (£6.00).

Oh sweet food that is in heaven. I promise you, you will hear angels rejoice when you pop that burrata bubble and scoop up a forkful of creamy burrata and deep rocket pesto onto the crispiest, crunchiest, tastiest oiled dipped focaccia slice. The sweet glorious sounds that escape you at this time of sheer joy we’ll forgive. There is no way you can enjoy this food without making it vocal!

The other dish that caught my eye was the Cheese, fontina, provolone and dolce latte (£6.00). Doesn’t that just sound delicious.

Onto the pasta. You can choose between the following and that’s it.

• Tagliatelle, roasted celeriac, sage brown butter and pecorino (£12.00) V

• Spaghetti, pea pesto, sun blushed tomato, chilli and pinenuts (£12.00) VE. Lotte chose this option.

• Pappardelle, beef feather blade ragu (£12.00). I chose this one.

• Tagliolini, n’duja, roasted peppers and preserved lemon (£12.00)

• Tagliatelle, pancetta, porcini mushroom, fennel, white wine and garlic (£12.00). This was my second choice.

• Linguine, mussels, prawns, tomoat and chilli (£12.00)

• Scialatelli puttanesca, chilli, olives, capers and anchovies (£12.00)

I loved this small menu because that means you have a chef that’s super confident in the food that they are putting out. They know that it’s the best plates of food they can prepare with beautifully fresh ingredients, and if our two pasta dishes and our two starters were anything to go by, then every single dish on this menu is going to be outstanding.

I did get plate envy as TartanSpoonie, Lotte, had ordered the Spaghetti with pea pesto. Gosh this was so good. Every single flavour had its time in the spotlight and the pinenuts giving it that little contrast in texture but also a creaminess. Sublime!

As for my Pappardelle with ragu - unbelievable. The ragu was rich and deep with lovely chunks of succulent beef that clung lovingly to the wide strands of pasta. So so good.

Both not big fans of Tiramisu, we decided to order it anyway. Franks Galliano and Borghetti espresso liqueur tiramisu (£6.75) and we were both blown away by this delicate melt in the mouth pudding. Somehow the cake held itself together on the plate and on the fork, but as soon as it hit your tongue it melted leaving behind a subtle hit of espresso and vanilla sweetness coming from the Galliano. I wish we had ordered a slice to go!

I haven’t mentioned the wine thus far and with it being a wine and pasta bar, you think there would be great wine. You would be correct again. A gorgeous selection of predominantly Italian wines but there’s a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and a Malbec from Argentina thrown in the mix. Some are sold by glass and some by bottle. As per the food menu, the selection isn’t vast just carefully curated. 4 reds, 4 whites, 2 roses, 2 fizz, 4 cocktails and 4 beers/ciders on tap. We chose the Amodo Pinot Noir, Paris, France (£4.60) and had the Amarone not been only sold by the bottle, that would have been my choice.

I don’t often give out Tartan Spoons but on this occasion I am. Franks wine and pasta bar is fantastic. I urge you to go, but make sure you have a booking as this wee spot is busy and full!

Franks Wine and Pasta Bar, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4ET. www.instagram.com/franksdundee

My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10

I was invited by Visit Dundee to review Franks Wine and Pasta Bar menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.