Despite feeling distinctly unromantic KATHERINE MACALISTER couldn’t help falling in love (or possibly lust) with the Italian Valentine’s menu at Carluccio’s in Bicester.

My love is like a wed wed wose. I know I should be taking Valentine’s Day more seriously but having to haul yourself out to a restaurant whose tables have doubled in numbers overnight, to eat heart-shaped mousse while listening to a violinist in the corner as your partner cries over the bill, doesn’t seem like the best way to celebrate your relationship.

But I did shuffle a decidedly unromantic-looking Mr Greedy down to Carluccio’s at Bicester Village last week to try their week-long version of Valentine’s dinner. Whether this was just prolonging the agony, or a brilliant way of escaping the actual day itself and taking things at a more leisurely pace, I was yet to decide.

But nothing could have been worse than the couple sitting next to us who spent the entire meal on their respective iPhones without pausing for conversation for the entire four-course meal. Why bother? Why not sit in a booth with a sandwich? Or just stay at home and watch EastEnders?

Probably because the £25 menu was too good to pass up even if they didn’t want to have to actually speak to each other.

Even they realised that the offer was outstandingly good value, the meal being superb from start to finish, and a lovely change from the Carluccio’s standard menu which I could recite in my sleep. It was so popular in fact that the recommended red wine had sold out and we had to choose something else, but that was a minor irritation. Our wonderful 0waiter, who seemed inappropriately charming considering I was supposed to be batting my eyelids at Mr Greedy, explained that the only choice we needed to make was which of the two mains to choose. Because being a traditional Italian menu it comprised of the antipasti, pasta, meat and dessert.

First up was the chargrilled pepper and caper bruschetta served with creamy burrata which arrived on a sharing board – the cheese tasting so delicious it stopped us in our tracks. With the stakes immediately raised, next up was the pungent sounding tortelloni di barbabietola rossa, beetroot ravioli with butter sauce, which was much more subtle and delicious than it sounded, as well as being incredibly filling.

Mr Greedy, who had cheered up immensely since spying the agnello con cavolo nero (braised rolled lamb with Italian cabbage, black olives and rosemary oil), which had him rolling his eyes in a suitably Valentino manner, vastly enjoyed his main course, while I sampled the pamigiana di zucchini (layers of courgettes baked with homemade tomato sauce and melting taleggio cheese) whose oozing opulence stunned me into submission.

The shared dessert wasn’t quite up to the same standard – the mini raspberry tarts were delicious, but the white chocolate profiteroles were a bit rich and sweet for us and the white chocolate panna cotta didn’t overwhelm us with lust.

Mind you, by this stage of the meal, that would have been miraculous because after eating this amount of rich food, any amorous thoughts were overtaken by more practical matters such as how to stagger to the car without my waistband bursting. And who said romance was dead?

Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience, much more enjoyable than Valentine’s Day is supposed to be, but as Carluccio’s was packed out, you’ve obviously already worked that out for yourselves. But if this gives you a heads-up for next year, just make sure you leave your iPhone at home.

* Carluccio’s is at Bicester Village.

Call 01869 247651 or see carluccios.com