For The Man Birds’ day job, he and I went over t’ moors to Manchester to the Northern Restaurant and Bar exhibition, sampling drinks and nibbles as we went up-and-down the aisles. The part of hospitality that he was interested in formed a very small part of the exhibitor numbers, so it wasn’t long before we were heading back home… just in time to stop off for a late lunch at Cupola in Stoney Middleton.
It was lovely to see several tables taken, including one with the most gorgeous dog sat patiently underneath whilst their hoomans ate dessert. We ordered a couple of Hot Chocolates (without Cream and Marshmallows, £3.75) to slake our thirsts, and I have to say that the ones served at Cupola are the real deal: mixed, swirled and heated on the coffee machine, but not out of it. The flavour and texture of this delicious drink is unreal.
As well as the regular menu, Cupola also has a specials board and our lovely server brought the mini blackboard over to our table for us to look at, before giving us some time to make our decision. Cupola has a wood-fired Pizza Oven, so I figured it would be rude not to have a classic Margherita (£13) morsel, made in the traditional way. On our last time at Cupola, His Nibs had wanted the Meatball Marinara (£16), but it had sold out, so he was all the more eager to get his chops around it this time. When the order was taken to the kitchen, I heard Chef say that that was the last Meatball Marinara order he could fulfil: talk about getting over the line by a hairs’ breadth!
Everything is cooked fresh-to-order, but it wasn’t overly long before our meals were being gently placed before us. I don’t care what anyone says, there is nothing quite as tantalising as the smell of a freshly made, bona-fide Pizza, and the aromas had me drooling even as I held the pizza wheel and cut the dough into manageable pieces. The raised, air pockets of the pizza had taken on a lovely char from the flames and heat of the pizza oven, bringing a great depth of flavour that contrasted with the sweet San Marzano Tomato base and creamy Fior di Latte Mozzarella. At the centre of the pizza was a sprig of fresh Basil, its perfumed notes bouncing clearly in the mouth. This was absolutely perfect in my opinion…but the glutton in me would say nah, double its size (testament to its tastiness)!!
His Nibs was like a proverbial kid-in-a-candy-shop when he saw his Meatball Marinara – I just hoped it was going to live up to his expectations. Judging by the huge grin that spread across his face after the first mouthful, I would say yes. When he’d finished chomping, The Man did indeed confirm that it was “flipping amazing”. The meatballs themselves [of which there were many] were pleasingly dense in texture with an irresistibly deep taste and, partnered with an intense Tomato-Marinara sauce, made for a very satisfying dish. I liked the fact that the pizza bread-bowl contained everything, and its crust made the perfect vessel with which to scoop up the last vestiges of sauce. Beautifully crisp, skin-on fries were served in their own little pot, and there was a nice amount of them: not too many as to go to waste in this satiating meal, but enough to be appreciated. A crisp, mixed salad was lightly dressed so as to enhance the clean, natural flavours of the leaves and vegetables and its pops of colour added an injection of visual appeal, too.
Our lovely servers had ensured that we were happy with our meals and that we’d got everything we needed for the perfect dining experience. One of the best things is the quality of service you get at The Cupola in Stoney Middleton; the team don’t rush you, and whenever they come over, a smile is on their faces. As an added bonus, Alison and Colin (The Cupola’s owners) came over to say hello and it was great to have a catch up on what they’d been doing since we last saw them, most notably becoming finalists in the Derbyshire Times Awards 2025 ‘Best New Tourism Business of the Year’ category. If anyone deserves to win, it’s this wonderful couple and their team! Please, please do go and support them (your tummy’s will thank you), and why not enjoy one of the many scenic walks in the area as well?
www.thecupola.uk
