Babbo, located in Mayfair is a traditional Italian restaurant in the heart of the city. A family-run venture, this restaurant boasts a wealth of traditional charm, with framed family photos adorning the walls. This restaurant offers a comforting atmosphere and authentic cuisine.
We began our evening with a couple of pre-dinner cocktails. We opted for an Apple Martini and a Passion Martini. Although they were nice enough, we couldn’t help but feel as though the cocktail menu could be brought up to date somewhat, and we were not blown away by the flavour combinations.
“What this restaurant does offer is hearty food with a traditional concept.”
After our cocktails we sat down for dinner and to start we opted for the burrata cheese with tomato and basil, and the baked aubergine with mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes.
For our main courses, we went for the veal Milanese with rocket and cherry tomato salad and the braised beef cheek with turnip tops and black truffle mashed potato. As side dishes, we chose crispy courgettes and roasted potatoes.
To accompany our meal, we chose a bottle of 2008 Chianti, which was an excellent addition to our evening, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
The food at Babbo was presented very well and tasted good. Head Chef Carlo Scotto has brought a lot of experience to the Babbo kitchen, having worked with Angela Hartnett at Murano previously, as well as gaining experience working at Galvin La Chappelle. Scotto prides himself on his ingredients and sources many of them direct from Italy.
Babbo is a good restaurant to visit if you particularly enjoy Italian cuisine. Although the cocktails weren’t necessarily to our taste, being spoilt for choice at cocktail bars across the world, what this restaurant does offer is hearty food with a traditional concept. We particularly enjoyed the fact that it is a family-run business, which gives Babbo a good sense of authenticity.
The Bill: £52 per head
