Italian Touch by Ivano

Italian Touch by Ivano brings traditional Italian cooking to central Bedford, with two locations in the town centre. The St Cuthbert’s Arcade site focuses on Neapolitan-style pizza, panuozzo, Italian pastries and coffee, while the newer High Street restaurant offers a broader pizzeria and ristorante menu.

Pizza is a particular focus, with the menu featuring classics such as Margherita, Marinara, Napoli and Capricciosa alongside more distinctive combinations including Salsiccia & Friarielli, Special Hot Vesuvio and Quattro Formaggi. The pizzas use ingredients including San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, Italian fennel sausage, nduja and Parma ham.

There is also plenty beyond pizza. The High Street menu includes antipasti, fresh pasta dishes such as carbonara, Bolognese, puttanesca and porcini & salsiccia, as well as Italian desserts including tiramisu and pistachio and mascarpone creations. The restaurant says its dishes are prepared fresh to order and aims to follow traditional Italian recipes and cooking methods.

For a more casual visit, the St Cuthbert’s Street location offers panuozzo — a Neapolitan sandwich made using pizza dough — with fillings such as mortadella and pistachio, porchetta, Italian sausage and friarielli, or chicken cotoletta. It also serves Italian coffee and pastries, making it suitable for a daytime stop as well as a meal.

With its combination of Neapolitan-style pizza, Italian pasta, panuozzo and traditional desserts, Italian Touch by Ivano offers several different ways to enjoy Italian food in the heart of Bedford.