I FELT compelled to write after reading Maxine Gordon's eating out review in January on Delrio's restaurant .

My wife and I have been eating at Delrio's, Blossom Street, York, for some 12 years and had to agree (sadly) with everything Maxine said. It was as though an old friend had passed away.

I'm of the old school and believe if it's not broken don't fix it, but also agree sometimes it's necessary to move on, to evolve and keep pace with changing tastes and requirements.

So we were pleased to hear that a compromise had been reached within the Delrio's management and the old favourites were back on the menu and the prices also brought back into line (don't know about the G & T mind).

So it was with great expectation that the wife and I set off on Easter Sunday after an absence of some three months.

I'm glad we made the effort. We were not disappointed.

It was like visiting an old friend. Giovanni was on hand and inquired as to why we hadn't been in. We were very truthful and said we didn't like the direction the place was going so decided to eat elsewhere.

He accepted our criticisms with dignity and said he hoped we enjoyed the compromise and we did.

The food, service and overall ambience were back to the standards of old.

So please Maxine go and give an old flame a second chance. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Shaun Collinge,

The Maltings,

Tanners Moat,

York.

Updated: 10:25 Friday, April 01, 2005