RESTAURANTS 45
www.guestlist.net
Issue 54 / 2013
Donna Margherita
Guestlist have decided to do a rundown of the best Italian restaurants in London, and we're kicking this off with
Donna Margherita, the best and most authentic Italian
restaurant in the Southwest.
Walking into Donna Margherita is like walking into Napoli, not just because of the Italian staff and crafted balcony overlooking the
restaurant (complete with drying underwear
that looks like it belonged to Sophia Loren in
her heyday) but also because the Neapolitan cuisine is cooked using traditional Italian recipes and fresh Italian produce. The
restaurant is run by Gabriele Vitale and his
brothers, men who grew up in Napoli and
have a real passion for bringing the authentic italian food they grew up with to London.
The quality of the food is apparent from the
very first taste.
The restaurant is constantly stressing the
importance of their ingredients, as well as
using a lot of Italian products and vegetables. The restaurant also uses fresh local
fish, which they try to get from renewable
sources. The Vitale brothers grew up with
these dishes, as Gabriele says, 'If my mother didn't cook it, it doesn't go on the menu!',
and the menu is stunning. A standout dish
for me was linguine with red mullet, the fish
was beautifully cooked and the Italian zucchini and Vesuvian cherry tomatoes were a
perfect accompaniment. I also had a goat's
cheese risotto and a scialatielli pasta dish
with tomatoes, langoustine and mussels,
both of which were cooked to perfection.
The risotto was thick and creamy without
being too rich and the langoustine and mussels were lovely and fresh. To finish, we had
a traditional capri dessert of almond and
chocolate cake with homemade vanilla ice
cream, the perfect sweet to end a meal.
Its really refreshing to find an Italian restaurant that lives up to its promises. Too often
claims of authenticity and freshness are
proven false in the tasting but Donna Margherita is without a doubt the genuine article. Perfect if you're looking for a great place
to eat in Southwest London. The friendly
and informal atmosphere make it a perfect
restaurant for family dining at the weekend,
or a relaxing dinner during the week.
183 Lavender Hill SW11 5TE
Have a look at their menu at www.donna-margherita.com/.
