Osteria Del Mare in Covent Garden brings a touch of the Mediterranean coast to London, with a focus on fresh, honest seafood and warm, laid-back hospitality. Inspired by long lunches by the sea in southern Italy and Greece, and designed with natural wood, stone, and maritime accents, the space exudes a warm coastal vibe. Watch chefs in the open kitchen transform fresh ingredients into Mediterranean masterpieces - the open kitchen buzzes with energy, and the fresh fish display lets you see exactly what’s in season before you order.
The menu is centred around quality seafood, simply prepared, and locally sourced. Start off with a signature frutti di mare platter, or perhaps one of Osteria Del Mare's tartare and crudo dishes, showcasing the freshest seafood. A visit to Osteria Del Mare isn't complete without perusing the fish counter, which shows all the fresh, daily catches on offer, where you can also pick a whole fish or shellfish from the display and have it cooked to your liking.
Pasta enthusiasts are also well catered for here, with dishes like Scottish lobster linguine, red mullet ragu paccheri, and taglierini with red Sicilian prawns and bottarga. We'd recommend saving a bit of room if you can, for some of the secondi piatti, which delve further still into classic, well executed dishes - swordfish steak with caponata; octopus with confit potatoes, and John Dory with baby spinach and mashed potato, for example.
Saturdays are all about the Bottomless Lobster Brunch, with seafood platters, lobster mains and free-flowing drinks set to live DJ sets. On Sundays, the mood shifts to a more leisurely pace with an Italian Riviera-inspired seafood buffet featuring a live singer. Fridays bring live music, making it a great spot to unwind with friends over oysters, wine and plates designed for sharing.
With a wine list full of crisp Italian whites, delicate rosés and chilled bubbles, Osteria Del Mare offers a simple pleasure – good seafood, good wine and good company, all just a few steps from the bustle of Covent Garden.