Finezza is a family-owned Italian restaurant on Poole Road in Branksome, on the Poole side of Bournemouth. Smaller and cosier than the big-name restaurants along the seafront, it is a place that puts homemade cooking ahead of show.
On the menu
The kitchen concentrates on Italian staples done well: pasta made in-house, pizzas and steaks, with homemade desserts to finish. Finezza describes its food as authentic Italian cuisine prepared from fresh ingredients, and a few traditional dishes get the kitchen's own twist next to the classics. Complete menus, along with a separate drinks list, are posted on the restaurant's website, worth reading before you visit, particularly if you have dietary requirements.
Mood and special occasions
Finezza plays up its "cosy" description, and its private dining arrangement supports that: space is set aside specifically for anniversaries, birthdays and date nights in addition to the ordinary tables. This is somewhere for a quieter, more intimate dinner than a big night out, and review sites show a strong reputation for both the food and the welcome.
Practical details
The restaurant is open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and through the day from Friday to Sunday; it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Hours can move with the season, so confirm them directly. Branksome is a short drive or bus ride from central Bournemouth and from Poole alike, so it's a sensible choice whichever side of the conurbation you're staying on.
Browse our food & drink guide for other restaurants in the area, and our things to do guide for more of Poole and Branksome.