Chichetti (pronounced Chi KET tee) is a deceptively large restaurant that at a glance could be mistaken for a Cafe-esque type eatery.
Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden’s theatreland, it is a high-end haven of Italian delicacies. The restaurant has been open for a little over a month now and definitely looks the part. As soon as you get in the door the small front opens up to a huge opulent dining room, smartly dressed (and easy on the eye) waiters greet you in fluid Italian and make you feel like you’re the only guest there, despite there being a queue at the door.
And then the food. Put simply, it really was rather perfect. The dishes are smaller than regular main courses meaning you choose between four and five plates between two people. This Italian tapas-esque style of eating is typical of the wealth of dynamic restaurants London is been treated to at the moment, and really played the part.
We ordered and within seconds we were given huge olives and freshly baked bread. The main course consisted of a king prawn and monkfish skewer which was incredibly good (the monkfish perfectly firm and the whole thing delicately flavoured), gamberoni piccante (huge prawns served in a creamy spicy sauce which were absolute heaven), the Gratin scallops, Beef Tagliata and a fillet of sea bream.
It was all perfectly executed, with seriously well thought through flavours that are served with flair. The wine, Toscana from Central Italy, was dry and elegant which perfectly complemented the food. As is typical in eateries one is unfamiliar with we ordered more than enough for two people, but we still decided to order an additional dish out of respect for the quality of food on offer, so we finished off our mains with the pork belly. It was amazing and definitely a good idea (if a bit gluttonous).
For Dessert our waiter recommended the sharing dessert plate, and we were so glad we took his advice! A beautiful board arrived dusted with icing sugar and stacked with tiny treats! A mini panna cotta with a zingy raspberry coulis, a pistachio Mouse, a mini tiramisu, a sumptuous pastry, a mini glass of Masala wine and even a bit of fruit, to convince yourself it was almost healthy. It was the perfect end to an amazing evening.
Whether you are a foodie, theatre-goer or fund manager, do not pass this door, go in, you won’t regret it.
San Carlo Cicchetti can be found at 215 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HL