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Located only a stones-throw away from Kings College university, lies another Cambridge institution. Aromi, a family-run Sicilian restaurant has developed a cult-like following with locals and tourists alike for its authentic sourdough pizzas and gelato.

In fact, it is so popular that it is common to see a long queue of eager customers looking for their next Aromi fix. I myself had to make sure I was there before opening time to guarantee myself a table. This alone is an exciting sign of its popularity and quality. Being my first time visiting, I just prayed that it lived up to the hype.

The restaurant

Aromi is actually two separate restaurants located next door to each other, with one serving pasta and gelato and the other being a more formal dine-in restaurant.

The staff are clearly used to the busy crowds, as there was an anxious and also most precision-like organisation when we were first allowed to enter. Once I stepped in, they pointed at my table and told me my table number in a very formal manner in an attempt to manage the numbers efficiently and promptly.

The low lighting added a nice melodic atmosphere that unfortunately resulted in some very poor photos for this review (apologies in advance). The restaurant was equipped with large windows that were perfect for watching the world go by. I can see this being quite pleasant during the summer with a cup of coffee and reminded me of the Mediterranean way of dining. With the historic streets, you could almost imagine yourself being on a city break.

Arancini

I opted for the Ragu Arancini, a popular Sicilian dish made as a rice ball in an outer layer of breadcrumbs, which are then stuffed with ragu and deep-fried.

I am not blessed with a wealth of experience with Arancini but these were the best I have ever had. Served as a portion of two, the thin and crispy skin added a satisfying crunch that slowly morphed into a heavenly gooey centre as you bite in. These lovely balls of delight really lifted my spirits during this cold winter evening.

Pizza

Aromi is well known around Cambridge for its pizzas and I have often been criticised for not including them in my Cambridge pizza league table. Well, tonight, I finally got to see what all the fuss is about.

The pizzas are all made fresh to order using 48-hour fermented dough. Then, they are cooked in a stone-baked pizza oven by their very own “pizzaioli”, who can often be seen stretching out the dough from the window while walking past.

I went for my favourite, the n’duja pizza, which comes equipped with mozzarella, n’duja, olives, red onion and parsley.

N’duja is a spreadable spicy pork sausage that has frequently left me feeling disappointed at other pizzerias around Cambridge (see Pizza Pilgrim) but this one was like a firm slap on the face with flavour!

The base was incredibly light and delicate, allowing the toppings to dance uninhibited on your palate. The grilled olives were excellent and the onions were perfectly portioned to compliment the overall flavour, rather than dominate.

If I had to be cruel, I would say that the base felt a little tough to cut through with a knife and fork. I know that eating a pizza with your hands in a formal setting can be improper in Italian culture but towards the end I felt like I had no choice.

Gelato

I was itching to try their tiramisu but unfortunately they had only just run out (oh no, it looks as though I will be forced to return! 🤣). As a result, I decided to try their gelato.

There is some stiff competition in the area for gelato, with Jack’s Gelato on the same street and Spoonstruck only a few doors down from that but Aromi manages to stand proud with a delicious vanilla gelato.

You have the option of one or two scoops that are served in a glass bowl. Vanilla is a common and easy flavour to make but a hard one to master but I feel that Aromi managed to show my favourite ice cream flavour real respect. It was cold, thick, creamy, and subtle – superb! 👌

My thoughts

Aromi offers authentic Sicilian cuisine in an atmospheric and perfectly located part of town. The staff were militant and clearly seasoned veterans when it comes to managing high volumes of people. One had to admire their organisational skills, even if it did mean resulting in a slightly distant and less than warm service but hey, they got the job done without a single mistake!

I thought the prices were completely reasonable, especially for the quality and the location. No wonder people are queuing to get in!

Aromi quite rightly belongs at the front of everyone’s mind when looking for an Italian in Cambridge. I just wish I hadn’t left it so long to visit myself!

Thanks for reading