We tried an afternoon tea inspired by the Italian Alps in the middle of a Solihull shopping centre

The Italian Alps aren’t the first thing you may associate with a bustling shopping centre in Solihull.

Yet Emporio Atari in the centre of Touchwood has originated from the breathtaking beauty of the world renowned mountains. The brand was founded in the small village of Morgex where coffee is a passion and authentic Italian cooking is an art.

The charming restaurant, bedecked with ornate blue patterned seating areas and flowered arches, is a wonderful spot to relax away from the hectic happenings all around the stores.

Emporio Atari dates back to 1886 and is part of the popular Lucarelli group which has a venue in Mailbox in Birmingham and Knightsbridge in London and has celebrity chef Aldo Zilli in the team. Peter Andre and Steven Gerrard have both been spotted in the Birmingham venue.

The restaurant serves a variety of cocktails and classic Italian dishes. There’s a dedicated breakfast menu and cinema and theatre menu too. We were invited to try out their afternoon tea - the perfect meal for a treat! Although with it being a British tradition, it wasn’t one I would have associated with Italy - so I was interested to discover a Mediterranean interpretation of the quintessential UK classic.

And I’m happy to report that Emporio Atari are quite the experts at this decadent dish. We had deliciously golden tea served from a delightful china pot with a matching cup and saucer - one pot each for me and my shopping pal.

Our triple tiered stand was stunning - three picturesque plates topped full of perfectly portioned delicacies. The savoury section was especially gorgeous. Lightly toasted brioche buns topped with a lovely variety of flavours. There was lime and pink peppercorns smoked salmon, stracchino cheese and rocket dressing; parmigiano mousse, roasted ham and honey mustard; and roasted mushrooms, asiago cheese and smoked ham.

The warm fruited scones below were moist and flavoursome, served with clotted cream topped with fresh sliced strawberry and strawberry jam (with the jam on first, of course!). Our third selection comprised a delicious selection of Italian minions and pâtisserie. Delicate iced pastries ensconced a variety of sugary fillings served with a dab of cream which were a fabulous ending to our experience.

Afternoon tea is served from 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Friday at Emporio Atari and it’s the ideal accompaniment to a shopping trip to Touchwood Solihull.