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 additional 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, alongside some firm favourites for the restaurant.
The antipasti menu includes Sundried Tomato and Rosemary Focaccia with Tuscan Olive Oil, Giardiniera (House-Made Seasonal Pickles), Nocarella Olives with Garlic and Lemon, Fried Courgette Flowers with Goat’s Cheese, Mint and Local Honey, Crostini of Wild Red Prawn with Citrus Mayonnaise and Wild Fennel, Burrata with Pickled Strawberries, Basil Oil and Black Pepper and Prosciutto San Danielle with Cantaloupe Melon.
Pasta dishes on offer include Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu and 24-month Parmesan, Pici a la Norma (Aubergine, Tomato Sauce and Ricotta Salata) and Ravioli Stuffed with Ricotta and Lemon with Pistachio Pesto and Fresh Herbs.
The Meat and Fish section offers Grilled Octopus with Datterini Tomato, Black Olive and Caper Berry Salad, Rolled Lamb Shoulder with Wax Beans, Salsa Verde and Confit Lemon, Grilled Fish of the Day with Caponata and Italian Sausages with Parmesan Polenta and Sweet Red Onion.
To round off the dishes, the Vegetables and Salads dishes include Aubergine Parmigiana, Caramelised Tropea Onions with Goat’s Cheese, Grilled Calabrian Red Peppers with Garlic and Olive Oil and Orange and Fennel Salad with Sunflower 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 space 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
