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For more than two decades, Ferrari’s Trattoria has been a familiar name for Italian dining in Quorn, just outside Loughborough. Family-run and rooted in traditional cooking, the restaurant has earned its reputation through homemade pasta, carefully prepared regional favourites, and warm hospitality that encourages guests to linger over another glass of wine.
While the menu celebrates classic Italian cuisine, it never feels predictable. Fresh pasta is made in-house, pizzas emerge from the stone oven with crisp, airy bases, and seasonal ingredients feature throughout the regularly changing specials. Combined with an inviting setting and attentive service, Ferrari’s remains a dependable choice for everything from relaxed lunches to celebratory dinners.
A Long-Standing Italian Favourite in Loughborough
Set on Quorn’s High Street, Ferrari’s combines the familiarity of a neighbourhood trattoria with the polish of a well-established independent restaurant. The dining room is contemporary without feeling formal, creating an atmosphere that suits both everyday meals and special occasions.
Much of its appeal lies in its consistency. Having served Italian cuisine in the village for well over 20 years, the restaurant has evolved while remaining faithful to the traditions that shaped its reputation. More recent changes have brought a greater emphasis on homemade pasta, premium ingredients and regional Italian recipes, while preserving many of the dishes that regular guests continue to return for.
Rather than chasing trends, Ferrari’s focuses on generous hospitality and confidently prepared food. Warm bread arrives at the table, familiar Italian aromas drift from the kitchen, and the pace of service encourages diners to settle in and enjoy the experience.
The Food at the Heart of Ferrari’s
Starters and Sharing Plates
The menu opens with a selection of aperitivo-style dishes designed to ease diners into the meal. Stone-baked garlic bread remains a favourite, available either traditionally prepared or topped with melted mozzarella, while warm homemade bread served alongside marinated olives offers a simple but satisfying start.
Among the starters, Bruschetta Romana combines homemade bread with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and red onion, allowing quality ingredients to speak for themselves. Arancini are equally tempting, featuring crisp saffron risotto balls filled with slow-cooked Bolognese ragù and molten mozzarella.
Those looking to share will naturally gravitate towards Ferrari’s Antipasto, a generous selection of Italian cured meats, cheeses, homemade bread and pickles that reflects the communal spirit of Italian dining. Seafood is equally well represented. Cozze are available either in a creamy Sauvignon Blanc sauce or a classic marinara, while Gamberoni Roberto pairs tiger prawns with Sauvignon Blanc, cherry tomatoes, garlic, parsley and chilli, served with artisan bread to soak up every last drop of the sauce. For something richer, Formaggio al Forno combines baked Northern Italian cheese with warm focaccia scented with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.
Fresh Pasta and Italian Classics
Homemade pasta sits at the heart of Ferrari’s identity, with each dish prepared to order. Drawing inspiration from different regions of Italy, the menu offers greater variety than the familiar collection of pasta dishes found in many neighbourhood Italian restaurants.
For something simple yet full of flavour, Maccheroncini all’Arrabbiata delivers a vibrant tomato sauce lifted by garlic, parsley and chilli, with optional additions including nduja, prawns or chicken. Richer flavours come through in Paccheri Genovese, where slow-cooked oxtail and beef ragù are simmered for hours, creating one of southern Italy’s best-loved comfort dishes.
Roman tradition is represented through an authentic Spaghetti Carbonara, prepared with egg yolk, Pecorino Romano, guanciale and black pepper rather than cream. Ferrari’s also continues to serve enduring favourites such as Lasagne alla Bolognese, layered with fresh pasta, rich beef ragù, mozzarella and Parmesan, alongside Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci, finished with butter and sage to let the homemade pasta take centre stage.
The menu extends further with a freshly prepared Risotto of the Day, showcasing seasonal ingredients, while Lobster Ravioli offers a more indulgent choice for special occasions. Together, these dishes reflect a kitchen that respects Italian tradition while maintaining enough variety to encourage repeat visits.
Stone-Baked Pizzas and House Specialities
Pizza has become an increasingly important part of the Ferrari’s experience, with authentic Neapolitan pizzas prepared using 48-hour rested dough before being baked to produce a light, airy crust with gentle charring around the edges. The result is a pizza that remains true to Italian tradition while allowing the ingredients’ quality to shine.
The menu covers both familiar favourites and more distinctive combinations. The Margherita keeps things classic with tomato, mozzarella, Parmesan and fresh basil, while the Diavola adds spicy salami, red onion and chilli for a little more heat. The Capricciosa brings together cooked ham, spicy salami, mushrooms, olives and artichokes, creating one of the menu’s most generous combinations.
For something a little different, the Valtellina replaces the traditional tomato base with mozzarella and Taleggio before adding smoked cured ham, walnuts and rocket, while the Vegetariana pairs buffalo mozzarella with grilled vegetables and onion. The folded Calzone Firenze, filled with mozzarella, cooked ham and mushrooms before being finished with tomato sauce, offers another traditional Italian favourite.
The kitchen’s ambition extends well beyond pizza. Signature mains reflect the same respect for classic Italian cooking while introducing dishes that are less commonly found on British Italian menus. Ferrari’s Chicken sees chicken breast stuffed with Taleggio, wrapped in pancetta and served with a creamy spinach and mushroom sauce, while slow-cooked Beef Short Ribs deliver rich, deeply developed flavour. Elsewhere, Crispy Pork Belly, Calf Liver alla Veneziana and Grilled Seabass provide further variety, alongside regularly changing fish specials that showcase seasonal ingredients.
Desserts and Drinks
The meal concludes with a selection of Italian desserts that comfortably balances tradition with indulgence. Tiramisu remains the signature choice, layering espresso-soaked savoiardi biscuits with mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa, while Affogato offers a theatrical finish as vanilla ice cream, Baileys, espresso and crushed amaretti biscuits are assembled tableside.
The Dubai Chocolate Mousse layers silky chocolate mousse with pistachio cream and crisp kataifi pastry, bringing a modern twist to the menu. The warm Apple Strudel, served with either vanilla ice cream or custard, provides a comforting alternative, while the Ice Cream Selection offers three scoops of the day’s available flavours.
The drinks list is equally well considered, featuring Italian and international wines available by the glass and bottle, alongside Champagne, Prosecco and sparkling wines for celebrations. Classic cocktails, premium spirits, Italian liqueurs and digestifs round out the selection, making Ferrari’s just as appealing for an evening drink as it is for a leisurely meal.
The Warmth That Completes the Experience
Good food is only one reason Ferrari’s has built such a loyal following. Hospitality remains central to its appeal, creating an atmosphere that feels welcoming from the moment guests arrive.
Service strikes an easy balance between attentiveness and allowing diners to enjoy the meal at their own pace. Recommendations are offered with confidence, courses are well timed, and there is never any sense of being rushed. Whether visiting for a midweek lunch, a family gathering or a celebratory dinner, the restaurant adapts naturally to the occasion.
That welcoming approach extends beyond the dining room. Ferrari’s has become a familiar meeting place within the local community while continuing to attract visitors from across Leicestershire looking for dependable Italian cooking in comfortable surroundings. It is equally suited to first-time guests and regulars who know exactly what keeps them returning.
A Reliable Italian Dining Destination
Ferrari’s has earned its place among the region’s most established Italian restaurants by remaining consistent where it matters most. Traditional recipes, freshly prepared dishes, warm hospitality, and an inviting atmosphere combine to create a dining experience that feels reassuringly authentic.
Whether the occasion calls for homemade pasta, a stone-baked pizza shared with friends, or a leisurely dinner over a good bottle of Italian wine, Ferrari’s continues to deliver the kind of experience that rewards repeat visits. In a constantly evolving dining scene, its commitment to classic Italian cooking remains its greatest strength.
Location: 4 High St, Quorn, Loughborough LE12 8DT
