With a name like Bar Etna, what else could possibly provide the inspiration for this unassuming little spot on the High Street in Altrincham. It’s almost like heading to Sicily for a few hours, just without having to brave Terminal 2. Or, even worse still, Terminal 3.
Our tip-off came from a neighbour across the road who couldn’t recommend the place highly enough. “The food is unbelievable,” Kate, from modern haberdashery Sew Creative, told us. “Never tasted food as good as that outside Italy. And also as a mum of two small, very wild children, they have a play area. So you can actually have a glass of wine and some pasta, and your children are just…”. She does the universal shoo-ing away of children motion.
Sold.
At the heart of Bar Etna is Carmelo Signorelli, or ‘Melo’ as everyone calls him, a warm, passionate chef from a village close to the volcanic Mount Etna that’s world-famous for its pistachios. Unsurprisingly, that vivid green nut shows up a lot on the menu. “This is like the heaven of pistachio,” he tells us with a grin.
The pistachio pasta is made fresh every day – like the homemade trofie coated in pistachio cream, topped with chopped nuts, crisp pancetta and heaps of Parmesan. But the pistachio party doesn’t end there – there’s even pesto-stuffed burrata and desserts that carry on the nutty theme.
It’s not just the food that makes Bar Etna special though. The vibe is pure Sicilian family kitchen. Carmello runs it with his wife, Chiara, who’s the fiery, charismatic foil to his calm – “She’s the volcano,” he jokes, affectionately. “At home she’s the boss, and now she’s the boss at work too!” Together, they’re clearly the beating heart of the place – laughing, cooking, and welcoming customers into the family.
Also check out the tarantini, little golden snacks stuffed with all sorts of savoury goodness, and cipollina, flaky pastry parcels with tomato, ham, cheese, and of course, onion.
The food really is something special. From the rich mortadella to the pillowy Sicilian pizza – a thicker base than Neapolitan – and great antipasti, it’s all made with warmth and flair. The desserts are stunners too – proper cannoli with crisp shells and smooth ricotta filling, or some proper gelato to stroll the streets of Alty with on sunny days.
Bar Etna is open now on Stamford New Road. Go for the food, stay for the people, and don’t even try to leave without ordering something pistachio-based.
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Italian
