Metrogusto

In a sentence, Metorgusto is the perfect neighbourhood restaurant. It offers imaginative all-day dining; starting with beautiful Italian inspired breakfasts through to sophisticated and imaginative lunch and dinner cooking. Ambro, the owner and maitre di is a consumate host and has an amazing knowledge of Italian food and wine which he uses to provide a genuinely interesting and very well-priced wine list.

A gem, and well worth a visit.

Metrogusto 

I find so many restaurants despite their descriptions of peaceful relaxed surroundings and sophisticated dining, to be too much hustle and bustle,
with mostly squeezed up surroundings. Sure at the high end you get more room and a spread out clientle, but at a price. For the everyday place to have a meal too many become one try only places – never wanting to suffer the seating/service/shellfish again!
  So having Metrogusto return to Battersea is a great pleasure. A warmly decorated, high room, with carefully chosen music – interesting, not bland I found, not too loud either – and nice big tables, makes for an enjoyable time there with friends, partners, children etc.
The menu ranges from snacks to mains, all well executed and of good provenance I'd say and the modern Italian food rarely fails to find the spot!
Service is from the estimable Ambro – the patron – who charms and chats without ever intruding on the diners time there, and is truly one of London's restaurant characters of note ( his subjects range from wine to football via modern art )
It's an easy going place, and they're happy to serve drinks down on the sofas at the back, expresso at the bar as well as the main tables service. Give it a try – despite a hectic stretch of road it's on, a calm feeling prevails whilst you're there.

Metrogusto has returned, hurrah! Between 1998 and 2005 this restaurant was a mainstay of battersea, with innovative takes on Italian cooking – it even earned mention in the Michelin guide as best value in London. We then lost it to Islington (and was replaced locally with the much more derivative Three Bridges Italian). But now we can welcome it back with open arms. Economic times mean it is a little more restrained, it's focus is on excellently turned out pasta's and risotto's. It has also embraced the concept of tapas style morsels, which are excellent value (who can argue with £3 for 2 large rice croquettes). Unusually (for a london italian), the food and wine predominantly heralds from northern italy. It also has a lovely space, with a sleek, but warm, modern look (the art is more restrained than it once was (more's the pity)). It doesn't aim to compete with the value end of the market (like the excellent st genaro (for pizza) or antipasto – both nearby), but aims at the quality mid market. This is the place to linger with friends and enjoy fab fresh food, and excellent wine ( this is the first place in London for some years where I have seen an amarone Classico on the menu for less than £50) – the wine list is excellent, and balanced with fab (and quite unusual) beer choices. I understand that during the day they have a children's menu, and encourage coffee and cake hunters ( with sofas at one end) Enjoy this much welcomed addition to battersea.