Rosina

Just when you thought Adam Byatt couldn’t possibly open another hit restaurant, he turns up with Rosina. This achingly beautiful neighbourhood spot overlooking Wandsworth Common is the chef’s first venture into Italian cooking, inspired by the food he loves to cook at home for friends and family.

Apart from Chez Bruce and a sprinkling of independent cafes, Bellevue Road has long been crying out for a restaurant like this one. It’s more casual than Adam’s other restaurants, including his Michelin-starred icon Trinity just up the road, but Rosina occupies the mid-ground between formal and relaxed, somewhere we’d happily pop in on a Tuesday for a plate of pasta and a Piccolo Negroni (only £5, by the way). High ceilings, marble-topped tables and expensive sage green and cream interiors feel instantly chic, but the vibe is buzzy, busy and fun, commandeered by friendly, energetic staff who know the menu backwards.

Adam has recruited head chef Will Bee (Lita and Paul Ainsworth at No. 6) to lead the team, and everything that comes out the kitchen is a celebration of quality. Bee lets the produce do a lot of the talking: a sweet nectarine salad with buffalo mozzarella and plump tomatoes needs little more than a lick of good olive oil. And before we even get to ordering, complimentary house sourdough, and a selection of crispbreads, olives and extra virgin olive oil are laid before us in a nod to generous, European-style hospitality.

These things go a long way to make us feel well looked after, and plenty more comfort follows. Salty, black pepper-spiked cacio e pepe for a mere £8 is the perfect little starter for one, or if you’re not averse to sharing, the mezzemaniche ragù slow-cooked in a rich veal and pork sauce is incredible. We order succulent turbot in a luxurious caper butter sauce and garlicky, ultra-crisp roast potatoes. The dish of the night? A show-stealing plate of seasonal summer vegetables, christened with char marks, more olive oil and flaky salt.

Tiramisu here is scooped straight from dish to plate, and that single spoon of mascarpone with coffee-soaked sponge holds a lot of weight. It’s a symbol of love and generosity, disguised in a small act of theatre, and those things combined sum up Rosina to a tee. 

Rosina is an Italian-inspired restaurant in Wandsworth, run by acclaimed chef Adam Byatt, the chef patron of Michelin-starred Trinity in Clapham.

Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt is a name synonymous with the South London dining scene, having steered the ship at Clapham’s award-winning Trinity for over two decades. With the opening of Rosina, Byatt turns his attention to Wandsworth, bringing a refined yet approachable Italian-inspired concept to the heart of the village, just moments from the Common. It’s a significant move for the chef; while his career has largely been defined by the rigours of French and British haute cuisine, Rosina represents a more personal chapter. Named after his daughter, Rosie, the restaurant is a professional extension of the food he has long cooked at home for his family, marking his first official foray into the flavours of the Mediterranean.

The menu draws on both Italy and the best of British ingredients, beginning with a concise selection of snacks and antipasti. Expect the likes of gnocco fritto paired with mortadella, and crisp fried aubergine, followed by starters that champion freshness and clarity, from sardines dressed with salsa verde to datterini tomatoes served with mozzarella di bufala, nectarine and basil. Pasta is a central pillar, ranging from a silky risotto bianco made with prized Carnaroli rice, to accessible, generously flavoured dishes such as cavatelli cacio e pepe and a punchy post-service spaghetti with anchovy, chilli and garlic. Larger plates, including salt-baked gilt-head bream with fennel and orange, continue the theme of simple, ingredient-led cooking.

Desserts are presented via an elegant roaming trolley, offering house favourites such as tiramisù or slices of Torta Fedora, alongside lighter options. Wines focus on organic and biodynamic producers from across Italy, with an accessible by-the-glass selection, while the drinks list leans into Italian classics, with spritzes and a range of Negroni variations sitting alongside signature cocktails.

The setting is bright and relaxed, with an open kitchen and an adjoining bar for drinks and lighter bites. A terrace lined with olive trees adds an alfresco element, while interiors favour understated, natural tones complemented by bold floral arrangements, creating a space that feels both polished and welcoming.