L'artista has been a Watford High Street staple for 15 years and recently topped a readers poll of the best restaurants in town. Our reporter headed down to see if it would live up to the hype.

It was a bitterly cold day in Watford when I visited L'artista for a meal, an eatery with a reputation that has preceded it. Scoring highly when we asked readers for their favourite spots in town, it seemed a perfect place to enjoy something to eat after a long day.

L'artista in Watford High StreetL'artista in Watford High Street (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick)

The restaurant

When I entered it was fairly quiet, but that soon changed as afternoon turned to evening. The interior is warm and welcoming, with art on the walls and scarves hung above the bar.

One such scarf is a nod to the Italian theme of the restaurant, as well as its location in the heart of Watford - a scarf from a 2006 friendly match at Vicarage Road where Watford FC held Roberto Mancini's Inter Milan side to a 1-1 draw.

Watford held Italian giants Inter to a 1-1 draw in August 2006.Watford held Italian giants Inter to a 1-1 draw in August 2006. (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) Surroundings aside, it was time to peruse the menu and as something of a prawn afficionado, I was spoilt for choice.

The food

I plumped for Gamberoni Riccione, consisting of King Prawns, garlic, mushroom and tomato.

Gamberoni Riccione,Gamberoni Riccione, (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) The prawns themself were fabulous, cooked in a lovely sauce that complimented them well. If I was being harsh, my only complaint would be that the bowl could have done with a few more of them!

The menu boasted a decent selection of beer and wines, but for this teetotaller it was time for a hot drink. Luckily, there's few things the Italians do better than coffee, and my Cappuccino certainly hit the spot.

Cappuccino - an Italian classicCappuccino - an Italian classic (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) Now it was time for the main course and reader, I have a confession: I'm not a pizza eater. I'm often reminded of a trip to Italy where I must have been the only tourist NOT to eat pizza.

Luckily, the menu had plenty to offer for all palettes and I ended up opting for Costolette d'Agnello Impanate - lamb cutlets in breadcrumbs with garlic and rosemary, along with a side order of Saute Potatoes.

Costolette d'Agnello ImpanateCostolette d'Agnello Impanate (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) This was an unusual but ultimately satisfying meal. The potatoes were exceptional and probably the high point of the evening. The lamb was also very good, but the amount of garlic was perhaps a little overpowering at times.

Saute Potatoes.Saute Potatoes. (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) It was washed down wonderfully with dessert, the Italian staple of Gelato.

Mint GelatoMint Gelato (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) I went for my favourite flavour of mint (a controversial opinion among those who argue it's like eating toothpaste) and wasn't let down, with the elegant little glass of Gelato providing the perfect end to the evening.

The verdict

It's easy to see why L'artista has been such a hit for over a decade. The menu is vast and the service excellent. The food itself was very good and well worth any punters time or money. The best? Perhaps not, but certainly worth the praise.

Liam FitzpatrickLiam Fitzpatrick (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick) (Image: Liam Fitzpatrick)