Trogolo

Just when you think Notting Hill’s roster of restaurants is at its peak, Trogolo bursts onto the scene to keep the fire burning.

It’s a lively little Florentine trattoria, founded by Lara Boglione, of Petersham Nurseries, and her winemaker husband Giovanni Mazzei. As Tuscan locals, the pair bring a tapestry of authentic ingredients, secret recipes, and Italian hospitality to Westbourne Grove.

Inside, warm candles cast a glow over limewashed walls, and wooden stools are squeezed into every nook and cranny. Spilling out onto the street, it’s the kind of place that would sooner go next door and ask for an extra chair, than turn someone away.

Giovanni has an impressive wine cellar, which favours Tuscan varieties and amounts to over 300 bottles. The staff navigate the lengthy list with ease - it’s worth ordering a bottle and settling in for the night.

Tuscan cuisine is all about simple, salt of the earth cooking, led by quality ingredients. Head downstairs and you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into an Italian deli - a marble countertop is covered with toppling towers of cheese, and glistening legs of ham at the mercy of a meat slicer.

We first see Trogolo flex its larder with an aptly-named ‘cheese and pear’ dish: pear is served whole, and sweet like honey, alongside three varieties of pecorino, ranging from a young, buttery number to a mature, Herculean chunk. Elsewhere, organic chicken is sourced from Lara’s brother’s farm in Devon, and braised in a simple, sultry butter sauce, before being sprinkled with crispy sage leaves. It’s all faultless, and the classy cooking continues with a wild boar pappardelle, gently softened with a hint of cocoa.

In true Tuscan style, bread has a strong presence on the menu. A garlicky kale and cannellini bean crostini is topped up tableside with a generous glug of olive oil, from Lara and Giovanni’s home in Tuscany; another is smothered in gorgonzola, offset with more of that delicious pear and earthy walnuts. The authenticity never strays and dessert is the real deal - a handful of almond-studded biscuits, dunked in sweet wine are a joyous crescendo.

Perhaps what we can glean from Trogolo’s slice of Tuscany, is that the formula for a perfect restaurant is often the simplest. Great food, great wine and great people are all it takes.

From the family behind Petersham Nurseries, Trogolo is a Tuscan-inspired bar and trattoria in Westbourne Grove, bringing bold flavours, natural wines, and Florentine hospitality to the heart of Notting Hill. Trogolo’s atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with interiors that balance modern design and rustic touches. The space is ideal for everything from a casual midweek supper to a leisurely weekend gathering.

Trogolo focuses on authentic Tuscan cuisine, offering a menu that celebrates rustic Italian cooking with a contemporary twist. Guests can expect two menus: Dal Bancone (from the bar) and Cucina (from the kitchen). The bar menu offers a whole host of cheese and Italian salami, from sbriciolona to homemade prosciutto and rosemary lardo, alongside 'Trogolinis' - milk bread buns stuffed with the likes of caramelised onion and straccone cheese, or slow-cooked peppered pork neck and salsa verde. You'll also find a section for crostoni laden with toppings like black cabbage and cannellini beans, panchetta and pecorino, or gorgonzola with pears and honey.

It's perfect wine food, but if you're looking for heartier fare, simply choose from pasta and mains from Trogolo's Cucina menu. Here, you'll find plates of spaghetti alla chitarra with roasted ragu, ribollita with new olive oil, hand cut beef carpaccio with artichokes, and bone-in pork chops with tomato, anchovy and capers. Sharing plates encourages a convivial dining style, while desserts showcase Italian classics with indulgent flair. A succinct dessert menu includes tiramisu, affogato, hay-infused panna cotta, and apple cake.

Trogolo also places a strong emphasis on its drinks offering, with a bar that champions Tuscan-inspired cocktails alongside a carefully curated wine list. Guests can explore natural and biodynamic wines from small producers, sip on refreshing spritzes, or enjoy classic Italian serves with a modern twist. Bold flavours with distinctive drinks make Trogolo as much a destination for an evening aperitivo as it is for a full dining experience.