Scalini has long been a favourite with West London locals, visitors and celebs alike, well-regarded for excellent Italian cooking and slick service. This smart restaurant has been going strong for 35 years and counting, and offers a cosy private dining room for those planning a special occasion in the vicinity of Chelsea, Belgravia and Knightsbridge.
You can hardly miss Scalini’s striking royal blue frontage with golden yellow awnings, and inside the restaurant brings an equally dramatic feel with its starched white tablecloths, its eclectic mix of wall decor, and a lemon tree that spills across the main restaurant. When it comes to group dinners, Scalini offers a private dining room that can host up to 26 guests.
The menu is packed with classic regional Italian cooking from all over the country. Guests have a huge choice of hot and cold antipasti to kickstart the evening, with dishes including courgette flowers stuffed with mozzarella and tomato sauce, baked avocado with crab and creamy cheese sauce, and seared scallops with garden peas puree and black truffle.
Make sure you save room, though, because there’s an equally large choice of excellent pasta dishes - we recommend having a look at the signatures such as fettuccine al ragu bianco with veal and fresh black truffle, or spaghetti all’astice with a spicy tomato and lobster sauce.
There are plenty of fish and meat dishes too, with options such as chicken breast stuffed with butter and garlic, and rack of lamb with demi-glace and garlic sauce, as well as dover sole cooked in lemon butter sauce or lobster in a creamy mustard sauce with mushrooms.
Those looking to celebrate can kick off their meal with an aperitivo, before diving into Scalini’s extensive Italian regional wine list, spanning red, white, rose and sparkling, with options by the glass or bottle.