Located next to a Tesco Express on a main road in Hucknall, Moda definitely stands out and looks the business from the outside. The modern frontage is certainly eye catching and the inside doesn’t disappoint either. Trendy décor strikes you as you enter as does the sight of a large plastic man seated near the ultra trendy bar area.
We are quickly led to our seats by a waiter. Dark wooden tables are scattered with diners on the Thursday evening we visit. The restaurant seeming to attract mainly younger couples and groups. We’re lucky enough to bag a booth, a nice touch, which has high backed dark leather seating.
The menu has plenty to choose from including a selection of signature dishes. One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Moda was for the desserts, they look amazing on their website, so we opt to share a starter to leave enough room and go for the Antipasto Italiano. The dish is beautifully presented but contemporary modern rather than authentic Italian. In my humble opinion it looked better than it tasted. Thin cuts of pepperoni and another meat which tasted a little like luncheon meat are accompanied by a selection which includes a chutney, which seemed to be curry flavoured, rocket, capers, roast aubergine, bread sticks, sun blush tomatoes, crostini and oil.
Antipasto Italiano
For our main course we choose the Penne Piccanti. It was ok but more synthetically tasting than fresh tomato and would have benefited from a chunky type smoked chorizo rather than pepperoni, although again maybe I’m comparing it to traditional Italian. We also try one of the signature dishes, Pollo Salsa Rosa. This was a great dish, not the best I’ve tasted but still succulent oak smoked chicken breast with rich salsa accompanied by fresh seasonal veg served in separate pots including roasted pepper plus carrots and potatoes.
Penne Piccanti
Finally the dessert. Torn between ‘Five a Day’, a selection of fresh vanilla panacotta with strawberry and rhubarb, raspberry, green apple, mango and sour cherry served in test tubes or the Chocolate Pyramid, a chocolate mousse tower. Being a bit of a chocoholic I opt for the latter, a trio of mousses served in little glass pots, placed on top of each other and accompanied by a sweet and tangy raspberry coulis. The top pot, the white chocolate mousse was ok, I’m not the biggest white chocolate fan but it was light and creamy. The second pot was milk chocolate. With each pot the flavour improved and the taste intensified with the final pot being a rich, indulgent dark chocolate mousse.
Chocolate Pyramid
The dessert was definitely my favourite course and looking at the menu, there are lots of the other desserts I’d love to try. All the courses though looked visually amazing but to be honest they were perhaps more show than flavour. Including a couple of drinks, for one starter, 2 main courses, a side order of chips and one dessert it was a little pricey at £62 but it’s definitely worth a visit for presentation alone along with the über trendy decor, crockery to die for and fast friendly service.
For reservations call: 0115 9636060 or visit www.modarestaurant.co.uk
By Tanya Raybould
