It may be part of a growing UK chain, but the Bath branch of Strada is low on faceless franchise vibe: chunky, dark wooden furniture, polished floorboards and uber-cool lighting make for a stylish setting that fails to detract from the former glory of the listed building surroundings and a friendly atmosphere oozes laidback, contemporary glamour. With a clear aim to bridge the gap between gourmet Italian and the less sophisticated Brit-palate orientated options that abound, a big menu covers all bases, whether you choose to take the tried-and-trusted, familiar antipasti (ciabatta, olives, beef carpaccio, mozzarella, gamberoni, etc) route that leads towards a decent pizza/pasta option or attempt to eat like an Italian and take your caprese insalata after your Bistecca di Manzo. While it’s unlikely that you’ll discover any new or wildly exciting foodie flavours here (Strada is, after all, attempting to brand-dominate the national consciousness rather than appeal to a specialist foodie market), the grub is as vibrant, colourful and fresh as the surroundings.

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A-Z of Bath Restaurants • Family-friendly restaurants • Lunch-time destinations • Party venues