‘London’s coziest Italian spot teleports you straight to the Mediterranean’

OPINION: If you want a homely restaurant that feels like you’re eating supper in nonna’s kitchen with dishes full of fresh flavour and seasonal Italian ingredients, look no further

In Central London it’s rare to find those diamond-in-the-rough restaurants that offer great food, welcoming vibes and exceptional service, but one place manages to tick all those boxes and then some.

We were invited along to check out the authentic, family-run Italian vibes of 64 Old Compton Street, situated in the bustling area of Soho, right in the middle of Leicester Square, Chinatown, Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.

To start off we tried the bruschetta, which was perfectly toasted and topped with fresh, vibrant tomatoes and a nutty pesto. The pork and beef meatballs were presented in a generous serving of their rich tomato and basil sauce, with fluffy focaccia added on the side.

However, the wild mushroom, truffle and smoked mozzarella arancini was our personal highlight. The breaded layer was crispy but light and the rich truffle flavour paired beautifully with the cheese.

Then out came our mains: a vegan risotto with a vegetable medley of asparagus, mushrooms, butternut squash and walnuts which was so good that we saved some to take home, the linguine with giant tiger prawns, courgettes, garlic and chillies in white wine, and thick pappardelle pasta with juicy porcini mushrooms and truffle oil (can you tell we like mushrooms and truffle?!)

64 Old Compton Street’s menu is undeniably the definition of elevated comfort food as their carefully curated menu showcases the very best that Italian cuisine has to offer, while also putting particular focus on fresh seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant is family-run, which really shines through with each bite. We couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear as we raised our glasses and got stuck into our dinner while we gossiped and laughed the night away in true Italian fashion.

It’s hard to do anything but relax here as the plush indoor booth seating and covered outdoor dining area create that unmistakeable Italian vibe that just invites you to unwind.

Although stuffed to the brim and adamant we had no room for anything else, we were persuaded to take a look at the dessert menu and it was the best decision we’d made all week.

I’ll be forever grateful that we found it in us to order a sweet treat to round off the night as their salted caramel cheesecake is simply delicious and one of, if not the best I’ve ever tried. Mouthwatering is the only way to describe the dish, a dense dairy dessert slathered in caramel sauce and paired with pistachio ice cream to balance the indulgent flavour.

We also tried the incredible pistachio tiramisu and the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, but the cheesecake…well….took the cake as far as we’re concerned. We all fought over the final spoonful and as someone that doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth, even I’ve been dreaming of that slice ever since.

If you’re interested in popping along yourself (even it’s just to try out the cheesecake) and experiencing a fragment of Italy without booking a flight, click here to book a table.

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