Ostuni is an authentic Italian restaurant bringing traditional southern recipes to Putney in a characterful space with a charming garden for al fresco dining. The restaurant's story starts in the owner's hometown of Potenza, close to the Apennine Mountains, where Italian cuisine was a big part of everyday life. From here, a move to Rome, and then London, paved the way for starting their own restaurant and sharing the dishes of their childhood with Londoners.
The menu follows the traditional Italian format beginning with some small starters that can be shared with the table, or enjoyed by yourself. Choose from the likes of bruschetta al pomodoro with marinated tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil, alongside porchetta con glassa di miele e peperoncino, with Italian pork belly and a honey, chilli glaze, as well as lightly battered calamari and courgettes.
At Ostuni, pasta is fresh and homemade and can be ordered in a smaller, starter size or as a main, if you prefer. There's lots to choose from between maccheroncini with handmade sausage and porcini mushrooms, spaghettoni with clams in a broth of mullet bottarga, and thick papperdelle with a rich ragu of hand-minced pork and veal.
As for mains, why not try the galletto alla diavola, a roasted, whole baby chicken marinated in herbs, or perhaps a half rack of lamb with a pistachio crust. If fish is more your preference, choose the baked sea bream with a golden potato crust. Sides look like seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, green salad and stewed Italian peppers.
Finally, if you have a sweet tooth you'll want to stick around for dessert. For something lighter, the lemon sorbet is wonderfully tart, while the blueberry panna cotta sounds smooth and indulgent, and the tiramisu just has to be tried.