C London formerly called Cipriani is a discrete fine
dining Italian restaurant tucked away infashionable Mayfair often frequented by VIPs and perfect for celebrity
spotting.
As my companion and I entered a bustling room reminiscent
of Italian luxury yachts from the 1920s, a hospitable waitress seated us at our
table.
We were served complimentary freshly baked flaky brioche
‘snails,’ a Cipriani trademark'. For starters, we ordered Ruccola tomato salad.
Although the portion was small, it tasted fresh. For mains, I had the Paccheri
alla Genovese. The tubular pasta paired well with the creamy beef and onion
based sauce. It is the sort of mains you want to delve into a whopping great
bowl of. Luckily the quantities are so generous that extras are left out in a
dish in front of you. My companion had the Chilean Seabass alla Carlina which
arrived with a portion of rice. Unable to ressit, I took a bite. The Carlina
sauce which is a combination of tomato sauce, capers and Worcestershire enhanced
the succulent fish to perfection. For dessert, I had the Dolci Vanilla Meringue
cake all to myself. It was light, fluffy and sinfully delicious and probably
one of the main reasons this place has me coming back each time.
This restaurant is glamourous. It is definitely the sort
of pit –stop for socialites and international playboys where authentic Italian
food is served. It’s success lives off international reputation with branches
in countries like Monte Carlo, Miami and now Dubai. It is more expensive than
your usual restaurant but you recognize that beforehand as it is a ‘to be
scene’ place. So when the bill arrives at around £105 per head excluding
alcohol don’t be flabbergasted. Just keep smiling like a ‘superstar.’
From the black cod to the lobster spaghetti; and from the insanely extravagant dessert choices to a fab wine list - nothing disappoints. To top it all off, the staff are wonderfully friendly which adds to the atmosphere, making you never want to leave this Italian food heaven. It's worth the money for a very special occasion in the heart of Mayfair!
A buzzy bite of La Dolce Vita in the heart of Mayfair. With an interior décor that manages to use kitschy Monsieur Poiro-esque features superbly well. Art nouveux maritime themes married with Murano glass and fake portholes conjures up a splendid feel of Venetian 1950's glamour. The menu is faithful to the favourites of the Laguna , and cuttlefish with polenta makes a hearty main course, followed by a towering cloud of meringue vanilla cake which was a confection fit for the Gods ! The starched white coated staff could have all just stepped off the Orient Express, and are as efficient, helpful and plentiful as even the most discerning diners could wish for.
A splendid taste of Italy, and just a short hop from Bond Street's tube !
