The Italian Greyhound

The Bernadi brothers have rebranded their namesake restaurant and in its place now stands The Italian Greyhound. Reminiscent of a traditional Italian bacari, it sits smartly on the corner of Seymour Street, just minutes from Marble Arch station.

Approaching the restaurant you can already see the sunny Italian style of this restaurant, with elegant sage and green striped awnings setting the scene of a little piece of Venice here in W1. On sunny days there is outside seating so passers by can glance over at the quaint scene of customers dining and drinking in the sun. Inside the restaurant, the ground floor is split between a bar and restaurant, with Scandi-oak furnishings, chunky wooden tables, blue-grey walls, modern artwork and a whole host of greenery. Staff are warm and welcoming and the light and airy space, filled with chatter and quiet jazz music, feels like a good place to be after a fast-paced day.

The menu includes a mix of sharing plates and larger mains, but in the interest of sampling a variety of dishes, we opted for a selection of smaller plates. To start, the burrata was well-seasoned and served with a side of courgette and courgette flowers, which made for a refreshing change from the usual basil and tomato, while the focaccia was light and topped with just the right amount of sea salt crunch. The hero of the starters though, had to be the smoked yellowfin tuna served with celery and caperberries - sliced paper thin, it’s a light and simple dish that you will be fighting your dinner companion for.

To follow we sampled one of the restaurant’s ‘pizzettes’, a mini pizza with an ultra thin base, which was pleasant and as expected but not a standout dish. The ricotta ravioli with tomato and toasted pine nuts offered a perfect balance of textures, with the smooth cheese juxtaposed with the crumbling crunch of the pine nuts.

The dessert menu is short and sweet and features reworked versions of Italian classics. We chose the pistachio tiramisu which was coated in a dark cocoa powder and lashings of cream, a great finish so long as you don't indulge in too many small plates. When it comes to the drinks, the must-try is the restaurant's smoked Negroni, or sample the signature orange wine for something sweet and a little different.

The Bernardi brothers, Marcello and Gabriel, are well versed in creating popular hospitality spaces which work thanks to their Italian charm and knack for straddling the sweet spot between familiar crowd-pleasing classics and contemporary techniques.

Now the pair have directed their attention to The Italian Greyhound, where the eponymous Bernardi’s once stood. This is an evolution of the brothers’ growth on the culinary scene in London. Working with business party Barry Hirst and head chef Yohei Furuhashi they have come up with a new and improved version of their dining destination.

This smart, friendly spot provides all-day dining in several guises. Both lunch and dinner offerings are on the table for guests to enjoy, while for those who fancy something lighter there are small plates and snacks, ideal for enjoying on the wraparound terrace or at the bar.

Chef Yohei Furuhashi’s creations have a strong produce-focus, for Italian dishes made with the-best-of-British ingredients. Furuhashi – whose experience spans time at River Cafe as well as Petersham Nurseries – has come up with a whole host of crowd pleasers to keep everyone happy. Pizza and pasta are firmly still in place, but sit alongside more usual treats. Transport yourself to sunnier shores by way of Sicilian chickpea fritters with sage or plump for the familiarity of a plate of handmade pasta, perhaps tossed through with a slow-cooked pork ragu.

The drinks list has been carefully curated to keep things short and sharp. Here you’ll find both Italian and British beers, ales and ciders as well as a hand-picked selection of European wines and a mix of cocktails which are perfect for aperitivi.

The restauranteur siblings have not only had a hand in the food and drink but have also closely worked on the interiors too. Expect a relaxed but refined space which puts an emphasis on natural materials to create a chic and contemporary place to relax in.