Bottega 35, a restaurant by Zandi brothers’ Emerald Hospitality Group, is squirrelled away in a pedestrianised section of Kensington High Street. I had already visited another of their offerings, the Riviera Restaurant in St James, and based on that experience, I was really looking forward to the evening.
Bottega Terrace
On sunny days and heady evenings, you can enjoy al fresco dining on tables set outside on this relatively quiet corner well away from the main road.
The interior reflects the rustic menu with wood beams, decorative glass lighting and earthy Tuscan hues, exposed brickwork from time to time and dim lighting. It’s a casual yet stylish affair.
The experience started on a high note with a glass of the fruity and floral notes of an Italian Venezia Giula, Veneto. We decided to share the starters and opted for a light tomato goat cheese salad with a delicious Balsamic and Basil, and paired it with the heavier Melanzan Parmigiana – rolls of layers of aubergine with a tomato sauce base and a mix of mozzarella and parmesan.
The Melanzan is always a favourite of mine, and though I would have liked a tad more seasoning, it was still tasty enough for us to scoff all four rolls.
Melanzan Parmigiano
What followed was a little bit of theatre where black truffle mafalodine pasta is tossed in a luscious melted cheese and luxurious truffle inside a hollowed-out wheel of 24-month aged parmesan cheese. This was a truly indulgent highlight of the menu.
The second main was a delicious Italian classic, Pappardelle Ragu, a dish of fresh pasta with meat and tomato sauce and by now we had moved onto our second glass of wine. We paired this with a Pinot Grigio Blush Delle Venezie IGT Sartorin Veneto, whose delicate flavours of pears, peaches and nuts, and the scent of fresh flowers matched the pasta really well.
Layered Tiramisu
Then there was more theatre. The Bottega tiramisu was prepared in front of us layer by layer, which we enjoyed alongside an absolutely delicious pistachio cheesecake. Both are worth the extra calories.
VERDICT
Bottega 35 is a convivial, relaxing space for casual yet stylish dining. Go alfresco when the sun is out or get a cosy table upstairs, on the ground floor or in the cavernous basement. Bottega 35 a great place to catch up with friends or indeed anyone and enjoy a pleasant lunch or dinner with good food in a homely ambience.
More info:
35 Kensington High Street,
London W8 5BA