Kensington is home to some of the finest restaurants in the city, from the laid-back to the high-end. A particular favourite that I have visited once before is Como Garden, so when I heard that they had recently unveiled their brand new, traditional pizza menu I knew I had to return. This is a charming Italian restaurant that's complete with seriously gorgeous interiors, and I couldn't wait to pay them a visit.
This stunning restaurant promises Italian eats in leafy surrounds.
DesignMyNight Reviews Como Garden In Kensington
The closest you'll get to the Italian lakes in London, this place is filled with twinkly lights, lots of foliage and a tree right in the centre - surrounded by neutral tones to make the greenery stand out. The sultry space was dimly lit by individual lamps on the tables, adding a romantic atmosphere. We were seated in a cosy booth right under the tree, allowing us to really soak up the scenery as we sipped our first drinks.
Mine was a Lago Amaranto (£16), made up of gin, limoncello, blackberry and sugar, finished with a foamy egg white layer on top of the creamy, deep purple concoction. My partner chose the fruitier Sunset Bliss (£15), featuring vodka, Frangelico, peach liquor, lemon and sugar - both sweet and boozy all in one delicious cocktail.
Both the cocktails and the plates are inspired by Italy at Como Garden London.
Our starters soon arrived, and first up we shared the fried zucchine (£7), tender sticks of courgette in a crispy batter, which we dipped in an indulgent, creamy basil mayo (£2) that was a real highlight of the meal. The second dish was an arancini with parmesan and fontina cheese (£6.50) - featuring a firm, breadcrumb exterior filled with gooey cheese and risotto rice that melted in the mouth, sat on a bed of tangy sauce.
Next, the thing that we really came for: the pizza menu. Our first choice was a simple margherita (£15), a wood-fired base topped with stretchy buffalo mozzarella and a rich tomato sauce. The slices were thin and crispy with a slight doughiness to the crust, both on this and the green vegetarian (£14) that we ordered. This had a similar mozzarella and tomato base, covered in a mix of grilled aubergine, courgette, peppers and mushrooms.
The new pizza menu at this Kensington spot is well worth a try.
We weren't quite hungry enough for a whole dessert each, but our trip wouldn't have been complete without perusing the dolci section of the Como Garden menu. We shared a tiramisu (£8), which had the perfect level of coffee flavour and light, whipped texture to the cream on top.
With these, we ordered another round of cocktails: a classic, refreshing Hugo spritz (£14) for me and a signature Cupido (£15) for my dinner date. The latter was a mixture of rum, amaretto, strawberries, lemon and sugar, finished with a fresh slice of strawberry.
Overall: Como Garden London
I had been wanting to return to Como Garden for some time, and my second visit certainly didn't disappoint. Their new pizza menu featured traditional, wood-fired bases loaded with fresh mozzarella and tasty toppings, and makes a great choice for anyone after hearty Italian food in Kensington. The romantic interiors make it a perfect choice for date night, and the beautiful greenery creates an Instagram-worthy setting too.
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💰 Price: £112 for three courses and two drinks each. 📍 Address: 37-45 Kensington High Street, London W8 5ED. 👌 Perfect for: A classy date night. ⭐ Need to know: They also serve a wide range of pasta, seafood and meat dishes. |
If you liked this Como Garden Kensington review, be sure to check out the city's best romantic Italian restaurants.
