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Frustrated by the generic chain restaurants that dominate the Cambridge Leisure complex, Cambridge Foodies have been asking the group for an authentic restaurant alternative for years. Thankfully, a solution exists, quietly watching from across the road – Al Pomodoro, an independent Sicilian restaurant.

Al Pomodoro is a tribute to the warm and welcoming hospitality Sicilians are known for. The restaurant is family run, meaning you can expect familiar faces serving you every time you visit. This helps create a warm, inviting atmosphere, as well as an opportunity to build a relationship with the restaurant.

The airy and spacious interior of Al Pomodoro transports you straight to Sicily. A large mural showcasing a vibrant Sicilian scene dominates one wall, setting the mood for your dining experience. The décor seamlessly blends traditional Italian charm with a contemporary feel. The spacious bar area adds the possibility of live music with a piano in the corner. This versatility allows the space to comfortably accommodate both large parties and intimate gatherings alike.

Freshness is a priority at Al Pomodoro. Their unique advantage lies in the owners’ expertise as wholesalers. This allows them to source ingredient directly from Sicily, ensuring an authentic taste. Locally sourced produce fills in the gaps, guaranteeing freshness and sustainability throughout the menu. Even the seafood gets special attention, with daily deliveries (except Sundays) guaranteeing freshness.

Al Pomodoro boasts a comprehensive menu, offering a great opportunity to explore their authentic Sicilian cuisine. Pizza lovers will also be impressed at the two-page section on the menu. Beyond pizza, you’ll find all the beloved staples of Italian and Sicilian cooking, ensuring something to satisfy every craving, including the more predictable (but equally iconic) dishes like carbonara.

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Starters

I decided to order their antipasto platter for two as a starter. I love the sharing aspect of platters, as it turns a dining experience into something more fun and communal. Best of all, it’s a great way to get an idea of the quality of their ingredients.

The platter was an absolute monster and came loaded edge to edge with all sorts of goodies. There were delicious Italian meats and light delicate cheeses, along with fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and the best green olives I have had in quite a while.

They even had bruschetta for some extra crunch but the real star of the show was the handmade suppli – these fried rice balls were amazing! Plus, it came with a side of gnocco fritto (fried pizza dough) which was perfect for dipping!

I couldn’t resist trying their homemade meatballs, called “polpette della cassa.” These are juicy pork and beef meatballs served with their classic tomato sauce, potatoes, and topped off with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. One thing that surprised me at Al Pomodoro was how big the portions were. Even this starter, which sounded small on the menu, was plenty for two people to share with four meatballs in total. They definitely weren’t stingy with the food.

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Mains

My wife ordered the spaghetti carbonara, served with guanciale (similar to pancetta), which is then topped off with a Sicilian pecorino cheese and pepper.

As someone who eats spaghetti often at home but rarely eats it out, the difference between the fresh quality of an Italian pasta from an authentic restaurant and the supermarket is mind blowing. Sampling the dish has reopened a discussion about our shopping habits at home.

The guanciale was incredibly crispy, to the point of slightly charred. This divided opinions on the table. The pieces less well done jumped out with a flavour similar to a very rich and salty bacon but without the smokiness but I felt the more charred guanciale let the dish down somewhat.

The two page pizza menu mentioned earlier came with a staggering 35 pizzas on their menu, including two vegan options, six vegetarian options, and five fish options.

Prices hover around the £14-17 area, putting them towards the higher end of the price scale in Cambridge. With all this choice it was inevitable that I would find exactly what I wanted and with that, I found the diavola. This is a thin crust pizza with a tomato base, mozzarella, pepperoni, spianata (spicy salami), n’duja and chillies.

The diavola looked incredible! It was way bigger than the one I had at The Porterhouse the other night. In fact, all the portions from Al Pomodoro have been generous throughout our meal and despite the slightly higher price for the pizza, I felt that I got my money’s worth.

The crust was the perfect balance of crispy and not remotely dry. The base had a rich, ruby red colour from the tomato sauce and pepperoni, with a subtle amount of mozzarella. The only thing missing was a stronger kick from the n’duja but other than that, it was a fantastic thin-crust pizza.

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Conclusion

Al Pomodoro transports you to Sicily with its authentic flavours and warm hospitality. This is a great restaurant for anyone craving a delicious and satisfying Italian meal in Cambridge. The portions are great, the ingredients are fresh, and prices were more than reasonable for what you get.

The friendly and attentive service makes it perfect for any occasion, from a leisurely lunch to a celebratory dinner. Plus, they’re launching a new breakfast menu on April 1st, so you can grab something on the way to work if you commute down Hills Road.

The question is, where does their pizza rank in my Cambridge pizza table?

Thanks for reading