The Italian restaurant that reigns supreme in Mayfair
Gentlemen, we've finally found the answer to all of your West End dining conundrums – Ristorante Frescobaldi.
Words: India Gladstone
Finding the perfect dinner destination in one of the city’s most desirable locations can be difficult. Often, the improbability of finding the right place can leave you frustrated, hungry and with a big hole burnt through your pocket. Well, gentlemen, we’ve finally found the answer to all of your West End dining conundrums – Ristorante Frescobaldi.
This restaurant encapsulates true Italian decadence in all of its finery. Incredible food, delicious wine and waiters who know exactly what they are talking about are just a handful of positives that sum up this traditional eatery. Filled with the glamorous clientele that you’d expect to see this side of town, this Ristorante Frescobaldi is exclusive in every sense of the word.
The menu is entirely made up of traditional Tuscan food but is heavily influenced by regions from the North to the South. Fresh pasta, flavoursome seafood and traditional dishes with a modern twist are on this incredible, regularly changing menu. Seasonal food is at the heart centre of this institution and to give you a sense of its freshness, each loaf of bread is handmade in the kitchens every morning.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ristorante Frescobaldi is the first UK restaurant and bar by Italy’s oldest and most respected wine dynasty, the famed Frescobaldi family of Tuscany, who have been making wine since 1308. And it shows, the wine cabinet in itself is beyond impressive – and that’s before you’ve even tasted what’s inside.
Frescobaldi, London
Although the restaurant is filled with glamorous and fashionable clientele, the vibe of the place is incredibly relaxed. The waiters know how to make you feel at home and the incredible interiors and wonderful plant life serve for the perfect interior inspiration.
I can still taste the melt-in-your-mouth crab bruschetta, the incredible lobster pasta and the flavoursome chorizo slices. Everything about the menu is beyond decedent and gives you everything and more that you’d want from a traditional Italian restaurant. Flavours are seasonal and ever-changing, so you know that the product is always fresh. Each dish is thought up by the incredibly talented head chef, Roberto Reatini who is constantly striving to make each dish as fresh and delicious as possible.
A huge part of the attraction to Ristorante Frescobaldi is its world-famous wine. It goes without saying that certain parts of Italy is famed for its wine, and Tuscany in particular is home to some of the finest wine ever produced. The Frescobaldi family’s involvement in wine started all the way back in 1308 and during the Renaissance, they traded wine for works of art with Michelangelo and were the major financiers to the Kings of England, with Henry VIII personally signing their receipts. If that’s not a story to tempt you in, I don’t know what is.
For an institution of this calibre, you’d expect the prices to be through the roof. However, while it might not be affordable for an everyday lunch spot, it’s certainly not unattainable. Starters start at £9 and mains start at £15. Wine hugely varies but sits at an average of around £25 a bottle.
For more information about the restaurant, see here.
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
