Restaurants

Upscale Italian restaurants are by no means a rarity in Mayfair, but Ristorante Semplice lays fair claim to a ranking in the very top echelons. Expensively clothed patrons are drawn to the seriously good cooking in a clean-lined, dark-panelled space. What’s more, despite the location it won’t make you worry about bankruptcy. A set lunch offers very good value, and even ordering from the carte, as we did, prices are not exorbitant. Our food was mostly of the very highest standard, especially two profoundly flavourful pasta dishes of linguine with rabbit ragù and ravioli with oxtail sauce. On the minus side, grilled octopus lacked sparkle and came on an inappropriate bed of grated carrot. But the flaws were minor, and more than offset by a selection of wines by the glass or carafe that made us wish every high-class restaurant offered something similar. Starting at £13, the carafes made it unnecessary to stray further into the list – though you won’t be sorry if you do, because the all-Italian selection is very strong. Service was quiet, unobtrusive, and perfectly paced even when the restaurant was at its busiest. In January 2009 the UK Michelin Guide awarded this restaurant a Michelin star.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009