Tosca
Quick info
About Tosca
Tosca is an Italian restaurant on Derwent St in Sunderland, serving seafood, pasta and pizza from a menu of 61 dishes. The owners go to the fish market themselves to source the seafood that appears on the menu. Starters include potato skins, and bruschetta is offered to guests while their food is prepared. Main courses run from Chicken Imperial, cooked to order and taking around 30 to 40 minutes, to Pollo Pepe, a chicken fillet served with homemade chips. The pizza list includes a Bolognese pizza served fresh in a large portion. The restaurant is family-run and operates from a rustic, homely dining room. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
Menu & Prices
61 dishes · mains £3–26- Soup Of The Day£5.50
- Potato Skins£5.50
- Garlic Mushrooms£5.50
- Calamari£7.50
- Mussels£8.95
- Gamberoni£8.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chicken pepe / imperial, fresh seafood from fish market, bolognese pizza and tiramisu.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chicken pepe / imperial, fresh seafood from fish market, bolognese pizza and tiramisu.
Customer Review Summary
Diners repeatedly single out the chicken dishes, whether ordered as chicken fillet pepe, chicken imperial, or Pollo Pepe, as the reason they return, several noting the kitchen cooks it fresh to order. Close behind, reviewers praise the potato skins as generously portioned and the seafood starter, described as scallops on brioche with a lobster and prawn sauce, as one of the best they've had. The tiramisu also draws specific praise for its presentation and flavour. Service is consistently called warm, with the host and waitstaff named as going out of their way, including greeting large birthday groups and, in one case, handling a delayed chicken order by bringing out free bruschetta while the table waited. The one recurring gripe is price, with a reviewer flagging drinks as steep at nearly seven pounds a pint. Another mentions the same song looping and docks a point for atmosphere, though still recommends the place.
Customer Review Summary
Diners repeatedly single out the chicken dishes, whether ordered as chicken fillet pepe, chicken imperial, or Pollo Pepe, as the reason they return, several noting the kitchen cooks it fresh to order. Close behind, reviewers praise the potato skins as generously portioned and the seafood starter, described as scallops on brioche with a lobster and prawn sauce, as one of the best they've had. The tiramisu also draws specific praise for its presentation and flavour. Service is consistently called warm, with the host and waitstaff named as going out of their way, including greeting large birthday groups and, in one case, handling a delayed chicken order by bringing out free bruschetta while the table waited. The one recurring gripe is price, with a reviewer flagging drinks as steep at nearly seven pounds a pint. Another mentions the same song looping and docks a point for atmosphere, though still recommends the place.
Featured reviews
- Shaun Jackson
“Mam's birthday tea was gorgeous had potato skins were served fresh and was plenty then had bolognese pizza served fresh pizzas are big plenty filling was very tasty would definitely recommend only think add fault them on price off drinks £6.75 pint and £3.80 for half lime and lemon bit steep but that's only complain”
- Minoo Sepehr
“That was lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. Recommended to all the North East residents.”
- Paul Riddell
“Quite definitely the best starter I've ever had in my life, Scallops on brioche with bacon and a lobster/prawn sauce. Main course was succulent chicken fillet pepe style and came with homemade chips which were to die for. Dessert was tiramisu, perfectly presented, full of flavour, absolutely delicious! Highly recommended to anyone who wants to sample the best Italian food in Sunderland. Wonderful service and ambience, great location... Grazie Mille Alessandro and the team, è stato perfetto 👌”
- Joanne Carr
“We came here for a 18th birthday celebratio. This was the 1st time we had all been here and honestly it was so very worth it. From the moment we walked in the host made us feel very welcome and assisted very kindly. Food was amazing so …”
- Keith Vasey
“Amazing place! Food was top notch, service was brilliant and they had bottles of double maxim! Only loses a star for atmosphere as it seemed the same song was on repeat but just a small gripe to be fair! Highly recommend 👌”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Family-run restaurant in rustic, homely venue serving authentic Italian seafood, pasta and pizza.”
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Good for kids
- Has bar on site
Show more amenities
- Casual
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
- Serves late-night food
- Serves spirits
- Serves dessert
- Dining options· 4
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Crowd· 1
- Good for groups
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
- Offerings· 3
- Serves alcohol
- Quick bite
- Serves wine
- Highlights· 1
- Has great wine list
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Italian Restaurants near Tosca
- Sambuca | Sunderland4.47600.7 mi
chicken kiev, river views, salmon thermidor
- Mamma Italia4.67031.2 mi£10–40
happy hour pricing, starter billing error, slow waiter attention
- 1.6 mi
italian food, pizza, pasta
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tosca | 4.6291 | — | £10–40 | chicken pepe / imperial, fresh seafood from fish market, bolognese pizza |
| Sambuca | Sunderland | 4.4760 | 0.7 mi | — | chicken kiev, river views, salmon thermidor |
| Mamma Italia | 4.6703 | 1.2 mi | £10–40 | happy hour pricing, starter billing error, slow waiter attention |
| Antico Restaurant | Roker | 4.5212 | 1.6 mi | — | italian food, pizza, pasta |
The 3 nearest italian restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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