Bella Donata

It’s a nice day so I thought I’d take my own advice, head to Bella Donata, get a takeaway and sit in Croydon Road Rec. Since I last went in, they’ve filled the walls with Italian cooking ingredients and, currently, is probably the only place in the area for ornate, Italian easter eggs. It feels so very homely and friendly and is a real neighbourhood spot, though it’s popular with doctors and nurses from the nearby hospital. A pleasant wait and, if I hadn’t planned to go across the road, I would have sat next to a couple of PCSOs enjoying a sandwich. However, I dived across the road and had a picnic, watching a toddler get frustrated by not being able to get on to the bandstand. The food was much better than last time and the sandwich came in at under a fiver. As we head into the summer, I may suggest my wife and I go here on a Friday.