Our Review Of Paper Moon At The OWO: Westminster's Fanciest Italian Restaurant

When strolling around Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and along the river Thames, you might not necessarily be looking out for The OWO, but chances are you've been past this gigantic Edwardian building at some point. The huge, Grade II-listed complex in Westminster was most famously used as a War Office by Winston Churchill, and has had many purposes over the years. Nowadays, it's home to 85 flats housing some of London's most elite, alongside Raffles hotel and nine different restaurants - and it was the latter that had me venturing into this mammoth structure recently.

Paper Moon is a relatively new addition to the building, accessed via a charming courtyard. These guys have got venues everywhere from Istanbul to Doha and Milan, with the first outpost dating back to 1977, having earned quite a name for themselves as connoisseurs of Italian food. And of course, I was eager to see if their London location lived up to the hype.

Nestled within The OWO, Paper Moon is a truly luxurious restaurant.

DesignMyNight’s Review Of Paper Moon Westminster

Unsurprisingly, the interiors were just as stunning as the outside of the building. The L-shaped restaurant struck the balance between tranquil, secluded dining and a buzzing atmosphere just right, and though it was busy the service remained personal and attentive throughout our meal. We were seated against the window on a cosy booth table, perched next to the gorgeous indoor tree that acted as a centerpiece to the white marble-adorned room.

I'd advise taking a leisurely approach to dining here, as the menu takes a fair bit of time to read through. There were countless wines to choose from, but we settled on a bottle of the Le Fornaci Lugana Rosé (£52), a rich and zesty drink with fruity aromas. We enjoyed our first glass alongside the complimentary bread basket we were given, featuring both pillowy, salty slices of fresh focaccia and crisp crackers.

Both the starters and mains on the Paper Moon menu were beautifully presented.

To kick off our meal properly, we devoured the burrata (£21), a gorgeously creamy starter that was bursting with Stracciatella, waiting to be popped open. This came with crunchy croutons and a tomato sauce that the waiter poured over the dish in front of us. While I was slightly surprised at the flavour at first (reminiscent of cold tomato soup), it complemented the cheese well. We paired this with the parmigiana (£21), layers of tender aubergine coated in a rich blend of tomato, basil and stretchy mozzarella.

Next up, the gnocchetti (£35) didn't disappoint: melt-in-the-mouth chunks of homemade ricotta gnocchi swimming in a decadent truffle cream. Finishing touches were made up of toasted hazelnuts, sundried tomatoes and shavings of seasonal black truffle, adding to the earthy taste of the dish. The rollatina (£32) was equally impressive - a row of pan-seared pounded chicken pieces formed into parcels, which were stuffed with spinach and mozzarella, drizzled in a rich porcini mushroom cream.

This also came with small, perfectly piped circles of potato puree, which we obviously didn't realise until it arrived as we also ordered a side of mashed potatoes (£10). I've got no regrets about this though, as these were beautifully buttery and smooth, the perfect addition to any of their meat options.

Pair Italian classics with indulgent desserts at Paper Moon.

No good Italian meal is complete without the dolci, and we were keen to try their desserts. The dark chocolate fondant (£15) was rich but not too bitter, served alongside some sweet vanilla ice cream and drizzled in another poured-at-the-table chocolate sauce. The dolce salato (£16) was served in a gin-style glass, layering up sponge cake with vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce, topped with a mixture of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants. This was fruity and refreshing, though we would have liked slightly more cake as it was mostly fruit and ice cream.

Overall: Paper Moon London

From the minute you step into The OWO, you're met with class, sophistication and glamour. This is a truly special spot that's ideal for celebrations or a pushing the boat out kind of date night, and the Paper Moon restaurant menu was just as exciting. They certainly offer everything you need in terms of authentic Italian fare, and there was a whole pizza menu that we didn't even get to explore. The obvious downside is the price, as it does require splashing out a little, but you definitely get a sense of exclusivity here that not every restaurant provides.

Searching for somewhere special like this? We've got all kinds of romantic Italian restaurants in London to check out.