We finally made it to La Trattoria Malton! I’ve been to the Helmsley La Trattoria before and loved it, so when we were planning a family meal out, we thought we’d give the Malton branch a go.
Spoiler: the food was delicious. The table situation was a bit tight. Would I go back? Yes, absolutely.
Let me walk you through our experience at this Italian restaurant in the heart of Malton.
- About La Trattoria Malton
- Our Visit: Saturday Evening at 5:30pm
- Ordering: The Menu and Kids Options
- The Starter: Antipasto Sharing Platter
- The Long Wait Between Courses
- Playing Table Jenga (Again)
- The Main Course: Linguine, Ragu, and Seabream
- What Makes La Trattoria Special
- The Fat Chef Company Background
- Would We Go Back?
- Comparing Helmsley vs Malton La Trattoria
- Tips for Visiting La Trattoria Malton
- Other Italian Options in Malton
- La Trattoria in the Context of Malton’s Food Scene
- Final Verdict: La Trattoria Malton Review
- How to Book La Trattoria Malton
- Other Malton Restaurants to Try
- Visiting Malton: More Than Just Restaurants
About La Trattoria Malton
La Trattoria is part of The Fat Chef Company, founded by Francois Strydom back in 2013 after he worked at Jamie’s Italian in York. There are two locations now – one in Helmsley on Market Place and this one in Malton on Wheelgate.
The Italian restaurant serves authentic Italian food all day with dedicated brunch, lunch and dinner menus. They’re known for their wood-fired pizzas, Venetian tapas, and generous pasta portions.
The atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, which is exactly what we needed with our five-year-old in tow.
Our Visit: Saturday Evening at 5:30pm
We booked for 5:30pm on a Saturday. La Trattoria Malton opens at 5pm, so we were one of the first tables in. The place was pretty empty when we arrived, which was lovely and quiet.
They took us straight to our table. Here’s where I need to mention the first issue – the tables are quite small. We had what looked like a two-person table with four chairs squeezed around it. For two adults, a five-year-old, and my mother-in-law, it was a bit snug.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t terrible. But there was nowhere for all the menus, drinks, water jug, and my son’s A4 writing pad (he was practicing his letters – bless him, but talk about adding to the table chaos!). It got a bit awkward playing table Jenga throughout the meal.
If you’re booking for a family, maybe mention you’d like a bigger table if possible. Or just accept you’ll be cosy!
Ordering: The Menu and Kids Options
We didn’t get a kids menu when we first sat down. We just assumed they didn’t have one, so we ordered Leo a margherita pizza and some skinny fries from the main menu.
The normal pizza was £8.50, which isn’t bad at all for a proper wood-fired pizza. But when the waiter took our order, they asked if we wanted to make it a child’s portion. Well, yes please! We had no idea that was an option.
Good food tip: ask about children’s portions even if there’s no kids menu visible. They were really friendly about it.
We also asked them to bring Leo’s food out with our starter, rather than waiting for the main course. This turned out to be a brilliant decision – he takes ages to eat, and I knew he’d be getting restless if he had nothing while we ate our antipasto platter.
The Starter: Antipasto Sharing Platter
We shared the antipasto sharing platter to start, and it was gorgeous. Very generous portions, too.
The platter came with:
- Milano salami
- Finocchiona
- Spianata calabrese
- Napoli salami
- Prosciutto di Parma
- Cerignola olives
- Sweet Roquito peppers
- Grana Padano
- Pane carasau (that crispy Sardinian flatbread)
- Homemade bread
- Rocket
- Balsamic glaze
They definitely didn’t skimp out on the meats – there was loads of everything. The homemade bread was divine, especially dipped in the oil and balsamic. I could have eaten more of that bread, but I didn’t want to ruin my main.
The platter was probably more suited for four people, but there were technically four of us (even if one was a five-year-old more interested in his pizza). No complaints though – I’d rather have too much food than not enough!
During the starter, the restaurant started filling up. By the time we’d finished, it was getting quite busy, which is always a good sign for a Saturday night.
The Long Wait Between Courses
Here’s where things got a bit tricky. After they cleared our starter plates, we waited. And waited. And waited.
It felt like about 45 minutes between the starter and our mains arriving. With a young child, that’s quite a long time. Leo had finished his pizza ages ago and was starting to get a bit agro (as five-year-olds do when they’re bored).
If Leo wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have minded the wait at all. It’s nice to sit and chat with a drink and let your food settle. But with a young child, it’s like having a ticking time bomb at the table, isn’t it?
To be fair to La Trattoria, this is a common issue at lots of restaurants. I’m not sure if they were just busy or if there was a delay in the kitchen. Either way, it’s worth being aware of if you’re bringing young kids.
Playing Table Jenga (Again)
When the food arrived, we had another round of table Jenga. Four main courses, side dishes and drinks – all trying to fit on a table that was already too small.
I ended up taking some things off the table and putting them on the windowsill behind us just so everything would fit. Not ideal, but we managed!
If you’re going to La Trattoria Malton with a group, this is something to bear in mind. The cosy atmosphere is lovely, but the table situation can be a bit cramped.
We also asked them to bring out some ice cream for Leo while we ate our mains. This worked well – kept him occupied while we enjoyed our food.
The Main Course: Linguine, Ragu, and Seabream
Right, let’s talk about the excellent food. Because despite the table size and the wait, the mains were brilliant.
My Mother-in-Law’s Linguine Vongole
She got the linguine vongole (clams with white wine, garlic, chilli, anchovy, and capers). She absolutely loved it. Said she’d definitely get it again, which is high praise from her.
The portion was generous – loads of clams on top. They really don’t hold back on the good bits! She ate all of it, which is quite rare for her. She’s usually a “leave a bit on the plate” person, so that tells you how good it was.
My Husband’s Slow Cooked Beef Shin Ragu
My husband ordered the slow cooked beef shin ragu with pappardelle. Very tasty, he said, but the portion defeated him. Good portions, lots of delicious pasta, and the ragu was properly rich and flavourful.
He couldn’t finish it all, but not because it wasn’t tasty, there was just so much of it! He also ate more of the starter than the rest of us!
My Seabream Fillet
I got the seabream fillet, which can be requested gluten-free. It came with cherry tomatoes, anchovies, capers, and chilli. I also ordered a side of skinny truffle fries with Parmesan.
The seabream was lovely. Cooked perfectly, not dry at all. The anchovies and capers make such a great combo with fish – that salty, briny flavour is exactly what you want. The cherry tomatoes added a bit of sweetness to balance it out.
The skinny truffle fries were a good choice because there was loads of sauce from the seabream to dip them in.
What Makes La Trattoria Special
Despite the cramped table and the long wait, we did genuinely enjoy our meal. Here’s what stood out:
Generous portions. They don’t skimp on anything. Whether it’s the amount of meat on the antipasto platter or the number of clams on the linguine, you get good value for money.
Quality ingredients. You can taste the difference when a restaurant uses good ingredients. The prosciutto on the platter, the fresh clams, the seabream – all excellent quality.
Friendly staff. Everyone was really helpful. They offered to make Leo’s pizza a child’s portion without us even asking, and they brought his food out early when we requested it.
Authentic Italian cooking. This isn’t one of those places that does “Italian-inspired” food. It’s real Italian cooking with traditional recipes and good technique.
The atmosphere. Once the restaurant filled up, it had a lovely buzz. Not too loud, but busy enough to feel lively.
The Fat Chef Company Background
I mentioned that La Trattoria is part of The Fat Chef Company. It’s worth knowing a bit about them because it explains why the food is consistently good.
Francois Strydom (the founder) worked at Jamie’s Italian in York before opening his first La Trattoria. That experience shows in how the restaurants are run – good ingredients, straightforward Italian cooking, friendly service.
The fact that both the Helmsley and Malton locations maintain the same high standard speaks to how well they’ve got their systems sorted. It’s not always easy to replicate quality across multiple sites, but they’ve managed it.
Would We Go Back?
Yes, absolutely. Despite the tight table and the wait between courses, the excellent food makes it worth returning.
I’d probably book for an earlier time next time – maybe 5 pm when they open, or a weekday when it might be quieter. That way, the wait between courses might be shorter.
I’d also specifically ask for a larger table when booking if we’re going as a group of four or more. It’s worth checking what they have available.
The food is genuinely delicious, the prices are reasonable, and the service is good. Those are the things that really matter at the end of the day.
Comparing Helmsley vs Malton La Trattoria
I’ve been to the Helmsley La Trattoria before, so I can compare the two locations a bit.
The food quality is consistent across both – that’s a good thing. Whether you go to the Helmsley branch on Market Place or the Malton one on Wheelgate, you’re getting the same level of cooking and ingredients.
The atmosphere in Helmsley felt a bit more spacious, but that might just be the luck of where we were seated. Both have that warm, Italian restaurant vibe with relaxed, family-friendly service.
If you live closer to one than the other, you’re not missing out by choosing based on location. They’re both brilliant Italian restaurants.
Tips for Visiting La Trattoria Malton
Based on our experience, here’s what I’d recommend:
Book in advance. It gets busy, especially on Saturday nights. We were early and still ended up waiting ages for our mains once it filled up.
Ask for a bigger table if you’re a group. The standard tables are quite small. If there are four or more of you, mention this when booking.
Order kids’ food with your starter. If you have young children, ask for their food to come out early. It keeps them occupied and means you can actually enjoy your meal.
Don’t fill up on the bread. I know, I know – it’s delicious. But save room for your main because the portions are generous!
Try the sharing platters. The antipasto platter was brilliant. It’s a great way to try loads of different Italian meats and cheeses.
Go for the fish if you like seafood. The linguine vongole and the seabream were both excellent. They clearly know how to cook seafood properly.
Budget for sides. The mains are reasonably priced, but adding sides (like the truffle fries) bumps up the total price a bit. Not excessively, just something to be aware of.
Other Italian Options in Malton
La Trattoria isn’t the only Italian restaurant in Malton. There’s also:
Pizza On The Square – Does brilliant sourdough pizzas and has a great beer selection. I’ve reviewed it here.
Florios Pizzeria Ristorante – Another Italian option with an open kitchen and family-friendly atmosphere.
But out of all the Italian restaurants I’ve tried in Malton, La Trattoria stands out for the quality of ingredients and authentic cooking. The generous portions don’t hurt either!
La Trattoria in the Context of Malton’s Food Scene
Malton is known as Yorkshire’s food capital, and eating at La Trattoria, you can see why. The focus on quality ingredients, local where possible (though obviously some Italian ingredients are imported), and proper cooking technique is what makes Malton’s restaurant scene so special.
Whether you’re visiting Malton for the day or you’re a local looking for somewhere nice to eat, La Trattoria delivers on good food in a relaxed setting. It’s not trying to be fancy fine dining, and it’s not trying to be a quick pizza joint. It sits comfortably in the middle – proper Italian cooking in a friendly atmosphere.
That’s what makes it such a good thing for Malton’s Market Place area. You know you’re getting quality without any pretension.
Final Verdict: La Trattoria Malton Review
Food quality: Excellent. Generous portions, good ingredients, authentic Italian cooking.
Service: Friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to accommodate our request about Leo’s food.
Atmosphere: Relaxed and family-friendly. Gets busy on Saturday nights (which is a good sign).
Value: Good. The prices are reasonable for the quality and portion sizes.
Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. Just be prepared for potentially small tables and a wait between courses if it’s busy.
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars. It would be 5 stars if the tables were bigger and the wait wasn’t quite so long!
If you’re after good Italian food in the heart of Malton, La Trattoria is one of the best places to eat. The linguine vongole alone is worth the visit, and the antipasto platter is perfect for sharing.
We’ll definitely be back, probably for a quieter weekday evening next time!
How to Book La Trattoria Malton
You can book online through their website or give them a call. I’d recommend booking for weekends – we booked and still had to wait, so I can’t imagine what it’s like if you just turn up!
Address: 51 Wheelgate, Malton YO17 7HT
Opening times: Check their website for current hours, but they open at 5pm for dinner service.
Website: fatchefcompany.co.uk/la-trattoria-malton
Other Malton Restaurants to Try
If you’re exploring Malton’s food scene, here are a few other places worth visiting:
FortySix – One of my favourites for a special meal. The fish sharing platter is brilliant. My review here.
The Talbot – Great for Sunday roast or brunch. The beer garden overlooking the river is lovely in summer. Full review here.
The Patisserie Malton – Perfect for afternoon tea and proper French patisserie.
Pizza On The Square – If you want pizza and craft beer in a more casual setting.
You can see my full guide to the best places to eat in Malton here.
Visiting Malton: More Than Just Restaurants
If you’re making the trip to Malton for La Trattoria, it’s worth having a wander around the town. There are loads of artisan food shops, delis, and producers in Talbot Yard and around the Market Place.
The bi-annual Malton Food Festival (usually May and September) is worth timing your visit around if you can. The whole town comes alive with food stalls, demonstrations, and tastings.
Malton really has earned its reputation as Yorkshire’s food capital. From Italian to Indian to traditional British pubs, you’ll eat well here.
Have you been to La Trattoria Malton? What did you order? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear what you thought!