LILLO & Giovanni's Italian Pizzeria Restaurant in Commercial Street, Newport, transforms from sandwich bar by day to restaurant by night - only the checked plastic tablecloths give it away during an evening visit, though!

The dcor is modern, light and clean, and with music playing in the background and the chatter of other customers, the atmosphere is pleasant and comfortable.

The kitchen has an open door and we were able to see the chef at work. The waiting staff are cheerful and friendly, and we were given plenty of time to make our selections and to savour the flavours between courses. There are no surprises on the menu, but a wide choice of typical Italian fare - pizza, pasta, meat and fish dishes.

We opted for caprese to start - (buffalo mozzarella) and soup of the day (tomato). The soup was made with fresh tomatoes, served with crusty bread, and the mozzarella with thick slices of fresh tomato and a tasty Italian dressing - both were delicious.

Our main-course choices were pollo nero (chicken in peppercorn sauce) and spaghetti carbonara. The chicken melted in the mouth and was served with roasted vegetables and potatoes boiled in their skins.

The serving of pasta was more than ample, with plenty of Italian bacon. The dishes were all cooked to perfection and the presentation was excellent.

A couple of tiramisu - one original and one fruity - completed our feast, which was accompanied throughout by a very nice Chardonnay (£11.50). Total cost: £46.00. Caroline Stock