Vale Street Kitchen, Denbigh

WHEN I mentioned going out to a romantic Italian restaurant, my wife had dreams of perhaps, a meal by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.

- MARK WILLIAMS

One of the most exclusive but expensive places to dine in the world.

However, Vale Street Kitchen, Denbigh is a must-visit destination for people who love Italian food, but at a more affordable price.

Denbigh town has its own fair share of historic sites with beautiful landscapes all around. Denbigh Castle and town walls were built between 1282 and 1311 and is now in the loving care of CADW.

Denbigh Castle was built by King Edward I in order to establish his dominance over Wales. The ancient castle now sits proudly, overlooking the medieval town.

Denbigh might not be as warm and sunny as Venice, but the Vale Street Kitchen has a heated outdoor terrace.

The outdoor area was a busy, popular place for drinks during our visit. Inside, the small venue has a simple rustic vibe with only six tables. There was a specials board on the blue painted wall along with a few local art prints.

A sole hardworking waitress was doing a fine job of greeting people and serving up the dishes. She handed us the menus and provided water for our table for two. We declined drinks, but there were the usual Italian suspects of Peroni and Birra Moretti along with an extensive wine list.

Cocktails such as a limoncello spritz were also on offer.