What a lovely way to celebrate one year as a member of Southport Scarlets by attending my first dining club experience. 

Due to work commitments this has previously been unachievable, however on Wednesday 23rd October I joined 11 other WI members at Volare Italian restaurant on Lord Street. 

Before selecting our preferences, (apparently some selections are predictable) I asked Jo whether reviews of the restaurants were carried out! I soon realised the main aim of these evenings were to enjoy good company, have a drink, eat, but not necessarily review the restaurant, therefore I’ve done my own personal review.

Although we waited quite a while for the starters to be served, when they were, comments from around the table resembled a night watching fireworks (lots of oooo’s and rrrrr’s). This continued as we tucked in. Clearly a good start! 

Presentation of the food was good, and we know this can be challenging especially serving pasta dishes, see photos. One particular main course, Penne Laguna, was referred to as bland, despite the mixture of chicken, courgettes and prawns, however I had Spaghetti Carbonara, which was creamy with plenty of bacon added. In addition to this, alcohol (like many restaurants) was expensive…£11.95 for two medium glasses of Rose, so as you can imagine the wine was drunk, leaving glasses empty! But were the plates empty? Generally yes, the leftovers only included bits of pasta, clam shells and bread. 

The atmosphere in the restaurant was welcoming and clearly the staff were attentive to their customers’ choices. So if you like a variety of fresh Italian food and you’re willing to wait, then Volare is suitable for you. 

As for reviewing the dinning club experience, I’m now wondering where the next event will be held, as joining the WI members on such an evening is definitely recommended, especially if you enjoy conversations that don’t include Brexit! 

Tina 

Spaghetti Vongole

Crab and Avocado starter

Carbonara