London Restaurants | London Guide

Venosi - New Italian Restaurant Now Open in Chelsea

Luigi Venosi, stalwart restaurateur, has upped sticks from Soho, to open a brand new self-titled Italian restaurant, Venosi, on Sloane Avenue in the heart of Chelsea.

Front-of-house extraordinaire, Luigi has worked in the restaurant industry for 40 years. Born on the Amalfi Coast, his second home became his central London trattoria, Don Luigi’s, where he played host to famous faces from Frank Sinatra and Mel Brookes to Dolph Lundgren, James Bolan and Franco Zola.
After a well-deserved break, together with his son Gino as head chef, they have opened Venosi - an elegant Italian restaurant oozing with old school charm and hospitality.

His ethos remains the same – simple, quality cooking and ingredients combined with the kind of service that will make you return again and again. Having spent his formative years in his father’s restaurants, Gino cemented his training in Il Cavaliere in Florence and his Aunt’s eaterie in Naples. The result: a seasonal menu which takes a contemporary approach to traditional Italian flavours and combinations.
With everything made in-house from the bread to sausages, special mentions go to salads such seared scallops, fennel and blood orange as well as radicchio, pear and watercress salad to start. Freshly made pasta courses feature a daily changing ravioli; linguine with lobster, tomato and chilli; and hazelnut tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and pancetta. Fabulous fish dishes include line caught sea bream with Jerusalem artichoke pureé and a basil dressing whilst must-try meat choices are hare stew with chestnut pureé and polenta; venison with red wine, dark chocolate and celeriac pureé; and the traditional veal Milanese with spaghetti Napoli.

The integrity of ingredients, many of which come direct from Italy, follow through to desserts which include home-made Parmesan ice cream; white chocolate, vanilla and rosemary pannacotta as well as Amalfi lemon mousse with basil sugar.

Exclusively Italian, the wine list is a treasure trove of regional treats. With over 40 bins under £40 it ranges from a Ca’ Montini, ‘L’Aristocartico’, Cabernet Sauvignon (£23.95) from Umbria all the way to the delights of a Biondi-Santi, Brunello di Mantalcino 2004 (£124.50) from Tuscany. Classic cocktails set to please the Chelsea set include a Negroni, which mixes Campari with gin, Martini rosso and soda and a Dry Martini served with an olive or a twist.

Venosi’s clean lines, exposed brickwork, open kitchen, clever mirrors and vintage photos result in an elegant environment that is as warm as the greeting you receive when you walk through the door.
Proudly Italian, this father and son business combines a passion for food and hospitality with old -school service, proving some things never go out of fashion or fall out of favour. Restaurateurs in it for the long-haul, take note.

Venosi, 87 Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, London SW3 3DX
T: 020 79985019
www.venosi.co.uk

 

New Buffet at Zilli Green Vegetarian Restaurant in Central London

On 29th April this year the buffet will be making a comeback, and by Royal appointment.  Rather than a formal sit down lunch, Wills and Kate will be sitting down to a sharing-style feast with their guests and it seems that, in top London restaurants, the buffet is back to stay.  

Once satirized in the 1977 play Abigail’s Party, it has acquired a touch of class in 2011 and celebrity chef Aldo Zilli is at the forefront of its revival.  

Aldo will be launching a buffet for lunchtimes in his top vegetarian restaurant, Zilli Green.  With a menu changing on a daily basis and dictated by seasonality, the offering at Zilli Green cannot fail to delight. 

Delicious, hot dishes available include:  Vegetable Thai Green Curry, Vegetarian Lasagne, Baked Pasta with Aubergine and Mozzarella and Mexican Chill Bean.  A stunning selection of salads will be served alongside the dishes and smaller plates include; Tomato and Mozzarella Panzerotti, Deep Fried Olives filled with Cheese, Vegetables in Cider Vinegar, Quesadillas, Hummus, Baba Ganoush and a warming soup of the day, perfect for this time of year. 

The buffet is extremely reasonably priced with a small plate costing £5 and a large plate costing £9.  For a mere £4 and £8 customers can take away their food in containers. Aldo Zilli says “ I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing back the buffet.  What is good enough for William and Kate should be good enough for my customers” So join the campaign with Aldo, and we promise there won’t be a cheese and pineapple stick in sight… 

Zilli Green41 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PY
Tel: 020 7734 3924/www.zillialdo.com

These Restaurants Could be Worth Checking Out

I mainly get information about restaurants I already know about, but these two I have never heard of before.  Details below - would be interested in feedback if you have been to either.

McQueen

McQueen is a new hotspot located in the heart of Shoreditch.  Inspired by the ‘King of Cool’ Steve McQueen, this spacious venue combines an award-winning bar, a stylish restaurant and atmospheric lounge club.

The interior mixes exposed brick work with leather and furs and there is a touch of Hollywood glamour with vintage McQueen prints adorning the walls. The light and airy bar in the day is a great place to grab the ‘Bullitt lunch’ offer (from £8.00) or a quick cappuccino but it transforms into a livelier affair at night with an extensive selection of cocktails and premium spirits.  

Restaurant at McQueen serves up a delicious selection of modern European dishes created by Head Chef Anupam Som (formerly from Saf), and there is also a substantial bar food menu to soak up the drinks on offer. 

McQueen hosts an array of fabulous weekly nights so check out the website for up to date listings and don’t be surprised if you come across the odd trapeze act swinging from the ceiling on your visit. 

We are just a few minutes from Old Street tube station.  You can find us at 59-61 Tabernacle Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4AA.  Or give us a call to book your table on 020 7036 9229. Website: http://www.mcqueen-shoreditch.co.uk/   

Banyan on Thames

Located in Battersea on the banks of the River Thames, Banyan on the Thames is a beautiful restaurant with stunning riverside views.  Situated in London’s most exclusive eco-friendly hotel, Rafayel on the Left Bank, the restaurant is split into two levels so that diners can all enjoy the fabulous views up and down the river.  

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and its menu combines European and Asian flavours.  Dishes are executed with a modern twist but without losing any of the flavour of their original origin. 

Favourite dishes include the delicious Mongolian Warrior’s Lamb, Monkfish Tagine, a mouth watering Fillet Steak served with Shitake Mushrooms and a Potato and Rocket Puree and British classics such as Fish and Chips. And make sure you save a bit of space for afters, as dessert is not to be missed.  

Highlights include Champagne Syllabub, Lemon and Blueberry Tartlette and a beautiful Chocolate Fondant. Banyan on Thames is a lovely place to celebrate occasion or simply make the most of one of London’s best riverside views.  

Come and visit us at Hotel Rafayel, Falcon Wharf, 34 Lombard Road, SW11 3RF.  

The nearest station is Clapham Junction.  To book a table, please call 020 7801 3638. Website: http://www.hotelrafayel.com/dining.php

Holi Holidays Menus at The Cinammon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen

London’s finest Indian restaurants, The Cinnamon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen, are celebrating the colourful Indian festival of Holi from the 14th to 19th March with vibrant tasting menus designed to delight the senses.

Celebrating the passing of winter, and the triumph of good over evil, Holi unites the whole family for mischievous merriment. Traditionally, coloured water or paint is playfully thrown by revellers at passers-by, although within the Grade II-listed home of The Cinnamon Club or the stylishly chic Cinnamon Kitchen, diners will be quite safe.

Executive chef Vivek Singh, alongside head chefs Hari Nagaraj (The Cinnamon Club) and Abdul Yaseen (Cinnamon Kitchen) have devised two menus that take diners on a sensational journey through the tastes, sights and smells of innovative, modern Indian cooking.

For just £40 per person at Cinnamon Kitchen and £50 at The Cinnamon Club, guests will begin with a zesty cocktail, before indulging in dishes that banish the bland and encapsulate the energy and spirit of Holi, one of the most fun-filled and exuberant celebrations in the Hindu calendar.

Embrace the arrival of spring and celebrate Holi at one of London’s finest Indian restaurants.
More info at:

www.cinnamonclub.com
www.cinnamon-kitchen.com

Puppet Show at Ora Restaurant

London’s fine dining Thai restaurant Ora, introduces for the first time in the UK – an award winning Thai puppet show, favoured by the Thai Royal family to celebrate Songkran (Thai New Year) this April.
Traditionally, Songkran is celebrated with the throwing of water, but with April showers, there is only so much water one wants to see. Instead, from the 12th-16th April, Ora will mark the end of the dry season with a series of festive dinners showcasing some of the finest puppeteers in the world, which are as unique as they are authentic.  

From 6.30pm enjoy a series of dramatic plays and dances from the traditional to the more contemporary whilst indulging in a special three-course set menu for £35, which showcases a host of signature Thai dishes. 

Start with Yum Pu Nim (soft shell crab in a light batter with a green mango salad) or Kaow Naam Tod Pla Salmon (smoked salmon rice-rocquettes served on a betel leaves with chilli and fresh herbs).  Mains include Moo Sarm Chun Yang (grilled marinated pork belly with chilli oil dip) and Kaeng Sai Bua Pla (red mullet cooked in coconut cream with rhubarb and chillies).  To finish, enjoy a refreshing dish of melon in coconut syrup with crushed ice.

With each puppet standing at over a metre high, and controlled by three puppeteers, it takes many years to master the smooth movement and interpretation of each performance.

A rare treat and one beloved of royalty, it is not to be missed. For tickets please contact info@ora-restaurant.co.uk.

Happy Birthday Italia – Spaghetti House Celebrates the unification of Italy

The celebration menu is aptly based on the rich, regal cuisine found in Turin, as the unity of Italy was proclaimed on 17 March in Turin, which became its first capital in 1861, several years before Rome would take over the permanent role. King Victor Emmanuel resided in Turin, and the town was always known for its excellent food and wines.  

Paying homage to this cuisine, Spaghetti House’s menu at £14.95 for two courses and £18.95 for three, includes starters of Potage di patate profumato al tartufo – leek and potato creamed soup with garlic bread and truffle oil, and Gnocchi con salsa al parmigiano e pancetta – potato and spinach gnocchi with parmisan and pancetta.

Mains include Agnolotti al sugo d’arrosto – pasta parcels filled with braised beef, veal jus and sage, and the most typical Turinese dish Brasato al Barolo con polenta – beef braised in Barolo wine with crispy polenta. This meal would not be complete without a Torta gelato ganduja – a layered ganduja chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla ice cream torte, although a homemade Tiramisu – Spaghetti House’s own recipe – is also on offer.              

Italian celebrations always call for a glass of Prosecco, which is of course included in the menu price.

www.spaghettihouse.co.uk