Corto Italian Deli in Church Street, Twickenham is a favourite family haunt and I’ve written about it a few times on the blog – it’s fabulous for morning coffee, lunch, family celebrations, and to buy the best quality Italian foods you’ll find anywhere. We go there a lot but it’s taken me a while to get round to letting you know that it’s a great place to take kids. Freddie (3¾) has been going there regularly since he was a few days old. He had his first babyccino at Corto and loves their pasta.

It was Jonathan & Lyndsey’s 8th wedding anniversary on Saturday and we all – including Freddie and Benjamin (1) headed down to Corto at lunchtime. The idea was to feed the kids well … the celebrating pair were going out in the evening (to Masaniello) and I was babysitting. A good lunch meant an easy snack could be put together for the boys and me in the evening.

Corto have a good Kids’ Menu.

Freddie actually had ‘tickle’ juice – his name for sparkling Pellegrino orange juice, which was slightly watered down with my Pellegrino water and shared with his mum. But there is a juice option on the menu for kids at just £1.

We asked him whether he wanted pasta with tomato sauce or meat sauce and he chose the Bolognese (£4). It was a good-sized portion but as always, Freddie ate it all up, though he shared a little with his younger brother.

The adults were happy too. There are always a few specials of the day, freshly made by Romina.

The adults all chose Melanzane alla Parmigiana because we all love it, and Corto make the best I know of. It’s always really really good.

We shared a mixed salad with it and also asked for a basket of bread, which was a mix of ciabatta, Italian flat bread and taralli bread biscuits.

The standard menu offers excellent ciabatta sandwiches, piadina (flat bread) rolls, salads, plates of mixed antipasti or cheese or meats; a selection of bruschette. All the cheeses and meats are cut to order and there’s little to beat a plate of their wonderful cold Italian meats sliced and laid straight on to the serving plate; bruschette piled high with chopped fresh tomato and basil, again made to order. They offer excellent wines too, homemade cakes and in the summer gelato from Gelateria Danieli.

We finished with coffee for the adults and some slices of chocolate panettone to share between us all.

For me, an essential requirement of a good place to eat with kids is somewhere where I also can eat well and would go without kids. It’s somewhere where kids are welcome (and Italians are the best at this!) so everyone can relax. Corto Italian Deli is always a perfect choice.