Como Garden is a slice of Italy at the tip of Kensington High Street. This restaurant focuses on Italian tapas taking inspiration from numerus regions of Italy with an interior mirroring the gorgeous gardens of Lake Como. As soon as you walk in, you are immediately transported to a replica of Italy’s lushest area, with a stunning tree in the middle adorned with fairy lights.
Como Garden is bought to us from the founders of Zuaya, El Norte and their most recent opening, Riviera, all of which are London based. The restaurant is decked with greenery, hanging lampshades and plant life making it quite a romantic ambience once the evening light falls and the golden lights descend.
Whilst dining, a wave of nostalgia hit me as my Nana used to always take me to similar Italian gems in the early 90’s around London and from a very young age I was hooked on olives and every type of pasta available. Even her boyfriend was Italian after her divorce so sitting in amongst the other diners, I felt very rich both in memories and the moment.
With a relaxed European-esq vibe, you can sit and swoon in the decor whilst sipping your Hugo cocktails. If you didn’t already know, a Hugo is a refreshing mix of elderflower cordial, Prosecco, fresh mint and lime.
Choosing a few dishes from each section of the menu is recommended. We shared some appetising Arancini with parmesan and Fontina cheese (order at least 2 of these as you won’t want to share!) and garlic prawns. The juice from the prawns was perfect for soaking our freshly made bread in and the hint of chilli warmed up the dish unexpectedly. The Sicilian Orange Salad with Cashew nuts and olives really livened up the Lamb Chops in Red Wine we ordered, and make sure you order a round of pasta which is handmade every day. Anything with truffle is always a winner for me so I would suggest you try the Truffle & Parmesan Tagliolini. There is also a range of seafood or meat tapas dishes should you wish to avoid a carb overload!
Saving room for dessert was a must as the Como Ferrero Roché is exactly what you think it is – a large version of a Ferrero Roché!
Overall Como Garden is a captivating and charming eatery with welcoming service showcasing the best parts of Italian cuisine.
Review and Images by Zoe Laing @zozogrameats
