I absolutely adored my trip to Italy two years ago but, thanks to the ever-rising cost of living, I sadly won’t be booking another holiday to the Amalfi Coast anytime soon.

However, with a wealth of great Italian restaurants on our doorstep, I knew it wouldn’t be too tricky to get a taste of the Med right here in Kent.

Posillipo in Faversham was founded by Vincenzo and Espedito, two chefs who met at the Posillipo Hills overlooking Naples, and sits on the waterfront next to the town’s creek.

It’s also a spot frequented by Rochester-based musician Jools Holland, who visited the restaurant for the second time earlier this year and left a glowing comment on the restaurant’s Instagram account.

So, when looking for a new place to satisfy my carb cravings, Posillipo was already on my radar. I figured if it’s good enough for Jools, it’s probably good enough for me.

We pulled up outside a beautiful glass-front building illuminated with twinkling lights and greenery lining the path. If first impressions were anything to go by, we were off to a good start.

We were greeted by the manager (or at least, that was my assumption) who gave us our choice of table and made a note of our dietary requirements. He seemed very happy to see us, like he was welcoming old friends.

The restaurant was around half-full which, given it was a chilly midweek evening, didn’t seem like a bad turnout.

We soaked up the ambiance of the place while we perused the menu. The soft lighting and exposed brick and beams felt cosy and intimate, but the fully-lit bar, displays of wine bottles and mosaic art on the walls were also a nod to a more contemporary style.

The menu was extensive, with a page of vegan options at the back and a decent drinks list. We were driving so stuck to the soft drinks, opting for two bottles of lemon and elderflower spritz.

I ummed and ahhed between pizza or pasta, but eventually went with fusilli aumm aumm (an aubergine, tomato and mozzarella dish). My dining companion couldn’t resist the pungent whiff of blue cheese, so chose the gnocchi al gorgonzola.

We also decided to share the focacce cipolla, a hand-streched pizza bread topped with red onion and balsamic vinegar.

The server who took our order was bright, efficient and swooped in to help us with our pronunciation whenever we faltered (which was often).

The manager swiftly brought over our bread and also delivered a bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, as well as a jug of tap water to go with our spritzes.

The lemon and elderflower drinks were delightfully refreshing, sweet with a slight tang, and we enjoyed a few sips before dousing our side plates in oil and vinegar to dip the bread.

The bread itself was perfect for sharing. The crisp dough was topped generously with soft red onion, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a smack of garlic - so I was grateful that we were both eating it!

After such a great starter, I couldn't wait for our main courses. We relaxed to the gentle sounds of quiet chatter and jazz music until our server returned with two huge bowls of mouth-watering pasta.

We agreed to the obligatory sprinkling of parmesan cheese and then dug in.

The aubergine pasta was simply delicious. The fusilli itself was thick and handmade - very different to the kind you pick up from the supermarket - and cooked perfectly. It was smothered in a fresh, light tomato sauce, packed with well-seasoned vegetables and topped with a layer of melted mozzarella cheese.

The gnocchi dish was equally praised. It was an incredibly creamy bowl of comfort food, with a punchy blue cheese flavour and soft pillows of pasta that any fromage fanatic would be happy to wolf down.

We left with carb-filled bellies and smiles on our faces, not only because of the scrumptious food but also because we’d been treated like valued customers all night long.

It’s not the cheapest dinner I’ve ever had but, given the excellent service, sophisticated decor and delicious, homemade food, I’d happily pay to eat there again and can understand why Jools has become a repeat customer.

Out of five:

Food: We had no complaints. It was a great menu and everything was fresh, handmade and full of flavour. *****

Drink: We enjoyed our zingy soft drinks, but I’d definitely like to try something from the wine list next time. ***

Decor: The restaurant has managed to find that sweet spot between cosy and contemporary. The glass conservatory out front looked like a wonderful suntrap and the waterfront location is a bonus. ****

Staff: I was very impressed with the staff, they were all welcoming, efficient and helpful *****

Price: It’s not exactly cheap but, for the experience, I felt the price (£45 for two drinks, a starter, two decent portions of pasta and a 10% service charge) was fair ***