A Cena

Just over Richmond Bridge, youre hit by the shock of the suburbs after the Georgian elegance of Richmond proper. Thankfully, A Cena raises the tone with its bistro-like design of wooden bar, stripped floors, pew seats, bare tables and dripping candles. Although getting hard to book, it remains a middle-ranking restaurant providing muscular cuisine. Food has a tendency towards the rich, even in a starter as seemingly light as gem salad with cream, shallot and parmesan. Otherwise, starters might include bresaola with truffle oil and parmesan, or slow-roast rabbit with pancetta, parmesan and bruschetta. Among just three fresh pastas, fusilli with tomato sauce was a large, lush dish. Mains too are solid more in tune with Anglo-Saxon meat and two veg, than typical Italian secondi piatti. So, leg of lamb with salsa verde (resembling mint sauce) and fried courgette arrived on a mattress of olive oil mash: just like the veal rump with broad beans and ham. After such robust pleasures, desserts like cheesecake and panna cotta were desirable yet not physiologically feasible. The red-blooded Italian wine list fits well with the wholesome cooking. Service isnt over-indulgent.

Services

Available for hire: Restaurant available for hire
Child facilities: Babies and children welcome: high chairs

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