Last Updated on September 13, 2025
From MasterChef precision to neighbourhood warmth, Rottura delivers soulful plates with style.
5.0 out of 5.0 starsOpened by twin sisters Emily and Elena, Rottura is a year-old, family-owned Italian ‘Eatery’ in the new riverside Brentford Project development in West London. The restaurant’s name is a mash-up of both of their grandparents’ surnames, Frattura and Romano. With Italian parents from Avellino in Campania and a chef grandad, the girls have a great backstory.
In the kitchen is Elena, who recently appeared on Masterchef The Professionals, with the unflappable Emily managing the front-of-house. The menu changes fortnightly and features small plates, pasta, large dishes and desserts.
The interior has a contemporary feel and wouldn’t be out of place in one of the trendier areas of East London. There’s a concrete floor, white walls and tiles, industrial ducting on the ceiling and light wood and marble-style circular tables. Gen Z queen Chappell Roan is on the stereo, which feels appropriate.
We started with a couple of snacks. The potato rosti was piping hot and crisp, with a soft interior and a light, garlicky, lemony aioli. A spongy house focaccia was also freshly baked and was without the oiliness often associated with the bread. There was, however, a peppery olive oil with some balsamic vinegar for bread-dipping. There’s nothing like some high-class carbs at the start of a meal to make you feel welcome and happy.
The wine list is centred around Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, with the occasional Argentinian red thrown in. It’s lunchtime, so we each had just a glass. With its slight fizz, Vinho Verde Loureiro, AB Valley had a clean, light salinity and notes of white peach and honeysuckle. An organic Custoza, Gorgo from the Veneto, had bags of minerality with pear and citrus flavours.
The Small Plates are generously portioned. A dreamy dish of creamy whipped ricotta and sweet-flavoured heritage tomatoes was given textural contrast and added flavour oomph by the crunch of pangratto – garlicky deep-fried breadcrumbs.
Beautifully seared beef scallop curls were elevated by the caramelisation of a teriyaki glaze, with a chimichurri sauce and rocket leaves adding delicious vegetal flavours.
Sweet-fleshed charred mackerel was covered with slivers of chilli and garlic, and some fabulous-tasting fresh fennel that popped with aniseed flavours.
Pasta is homemade daily. We tried the Mafalda Corta, Beautiful pasta strips with ruffled edges, feathery and soft but still with bite. The dish was topped with a creamy burrata, tomatoes, and had a light chilli heat. This pasta is named after the tragic figure of Mafalda of Hesse, Princess of Savoy, who died in 1944 while incarcerated in Buchenwald concentration camp as a result of injuries sustained from American bombs.
From the Large Plates selection, we had a tranche of perfectly cooked cod, seared on the outside, pearly white inside, with spiced lentils, crunchy peas and a cumin-infused garlic and lemon yoghurt. Delicious!
Served tableside, a boozy, creamy Tiramisu seemed like the obvious dessert option.
There’s a generosity of spirit on display at Rottura, and the restaurant is keenly priced, offering incredible value. The cooking has the precision of fine dining applied to dishes that are rustic in character. Rottura has the charming vibe of a neighbourhood restaurant, offering up posh sandwiches at lunchtime, combined with standout cooking and friendly service. If you are in West London, make a beeline for Brentford (there is easy parking under the local Morrison’s) before Emily and Elena’s Eatery becomes the next River Café. I’ve already been back.
Rottura
115 High Street,
Brentford,
Hounslow
London
TW8 8EW
0204 597 9943
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