Situated at the base of the stylish Middle Eight hotel in Covent Garden, Sycamore Vino Cucina is a venue that screams quality and elegance from the very moment you walk through the huge brass plated doors.
We wandered through the chic entrance to find a spacious and bright restaurant. The ceiling was covered by hundreds of golden sycamore leaves, a very classy touch. We were looking forward to some great Italian food.
We immediately came across an imposing and grand central bar, which is exactly where we headed for our first cocktail of the day, before being offered the extensive menu to peruse.
Guided by the very welcoming staff and maître d, we chose to sit by the colossal tinted windows to enjoy the midday sunshine, watching the bustle on busy Great Queen Street outside. Contemporary furniture and fixings of teal, bright yellow and grey in the bar area created a super cool and chilled out atmosphere. Almost like you’d popped into a good friend’s house for cosy drinks. A friend who had impeccable taste!
I’d had a busy weekend and was keen to have hair of the dog so went for my all-time favourite, an Old Fashioned with a honeycomb twist. My dining partner chose Passionfruit Fizz which was actually offered as a mocktail on the menu, but the bartender was more than happy to add a splash of alcohol at my friend’s request. Both cocktails were not only delicious but also looked beautiful.
It was all rather naughty on a Monday lunchtime to hit the booze, but the ambience of the place made us feel so relaxed and carefree we had to indulge.
The menu is full of classic Italian dishes from many regions of Italy. In the kitchen is chef Paul Robinson, who’s passion for quality Italian ingredients is apparent from the first moment I see our starters arriving. This was some seriously good Italian food.
I went for the Burrata with caponata, basil and pine nuts. The generous blobby sphere of creamy and velvety cheese was mouth-watering, especially when complimented with the tangy sweet tomatoes and perfectly toasted croutons. I couldn’t get enough and my friend laughed at how quickly I scoffed it down. She enjoyed a stunning salad of Fregola, with fennel and orange. Both of our starters were generous yet light and had clearly been created by a chef whose enthusiasm for combining top ingredients shone through.
Before our mains arrived, we were offered more drinks and an impressive selection of breads, with an olive oil balsamic dip, by the extremely attentive waiters.
I was excited to try my Cacciucco, a fish stew native to the western coastal towns of Tuscany. When it arrived, I was overjoyed to spy huge prawns, dainty clams and bountiful portions of mullet within the tasty tomato sauce of the dish. I adore anything with seafood, and I was not let down by this gorgeous plate of food. There was also plenty of the delectable bread to mop up any leftover sauce.
My friend ordered the Granchio Cannellio with crab, ricotta and courgette which was a real showstopper. Plentiful and covered with thick and luscious cheese and then carefully baked until there’s just the right amount of crispy caramelisation on top. She cleaned her plate stating, “I just love great food, it makes me so happy”.
We both felt extremely well fed and satisfied but my dining companion couldn’t resist the Tiramisu for dessert. I couldn’t let her down by not having a spoonful myself! I especially enjoyed the coconut tulle that accompanied the pudding, it had a sweet and crispy texture, balancing the bitter tang of coffee powder and rich cream. Great Italian food!
I would highly recommend Sycamore Vino Cucina for a fabulous dining experience. Impeccable service, outrageously beautiful plates of food and all within an achingly cool, chilled and charming setting. It’s earned a well-deserved place on my best places to try in London list!
Starters from £6
Mains are from £16
Pizza starts at £9.50
For more information visit https://www.middleeight.com/food-drink/sycamore-restaurant-bar/
Review by Saffron Bentley
