Every Londoner wants a little black book full of neighbourhood haunts; the kind of atmospheric spots, lying a little off the beaten path with good, honest food that never lets you down. For a birthday, engagement party, or even work event, an intimate restaurant with a private dining space is just the thing - and here's where Rosmarino comes in.
Rosmarino is a wonderfully authentic Italian restaurant and, while the city might be full of them, this one has a special story. Owned by couple Daria and Giovanni, the pair bring the flavours, traditions and techniques from their Italian hometowns - for Daria, it's a picturesque seaside village on the south coast, north to Rome; for Giovanni its Florence herself, where he also studied to be a sommelier. Together, they have years of experience in Italy, home to some of the world's best food, as well as London, and have opened their own place to pass on not only recipes and methods alive for generations, but their own modern twists, too.
The restaurant is a charming space with an intimate feel and decor that nods to both rustic details such as exposed stone walls, as well as a modern industrial style, with bare-bulb lighting and grey accents. Rosmarino has its own private dining room featuring plush, orange seating and tables that can be reconfigured to suit your event. Here, there's enough space for 20 people, and the team welcomes all kinds of events.
In terms of the menu, you can rarely go wrong with Italian cuisine, and here everything is made from scratch, from the sourdough pizza to the egg pasta. Expect a traditional format, starting with small bites, antipasti, pizza, pasta and secondi. The wine list has been, of course, curated by Giovanni who focuses on Italian bottles that best complement the food.