Crossword Genius

Restaurant offers excellent crumble, sweet course served retro-style (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trattoria

'restaurant' is the definition.
(type of Italian restaurant)

'excellent crumble sweet course served retro-style' is the wordplay.
'excellent' becomes 'ai' (resembles 'A1', old-fashioned term for excellent).
'crumble' becomes 'rot' (I've seen this before).
'sweet course' becomes 'tart' (type of pudding or sweet).
'served retro-style' says the letters should be written in reverse (retro means \'back\' in Latin).
'ai'+'rot'+'tart'='airottart'
'airottart' back-to-front is 'TRATTORIA'.

'offers' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for trattoria that I've seen before include "where Italians eat" , "Italian restaurant" , "Italian eating establishment" , "Place to eat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app