Last Updated on March 9, 2024
Como Garden – Italian restaurant in Kensington
I visited an excellent Latin American restaurant in Kensington called Zuaya a couple of years ago, so when I was offered the opportunity to go along to its sister restaurant Como Garden, right next door to Zuaya on Kensington High Street and run by the very same Spanish twins Alberto and Arian Zandi, I jumped at the chance.
Como Garden’s Italian menu is designed to be shared; tapas-style small plates celebrating dishes from across all of Italy’s regions. It first opened in December 2020, but could only remain open for a few days because of the second lockdown, but now the restaurant is now fully open for both indoor and alfresco dining.
The Mediterranean-styled interior is inspired by the beautiful scenery of Lake Como located in Northern Italy. The stylish décor has walls laced with greenery and a central olive tree that hangs elegantly over cream leather horseshoe-shaped booths with classic statues influenced by the Italian Renaissance era holding court.
So, with the sharing concept in mind, we chose a selection of dishes from the menu which champions some of the best and freshest produce sourced directly from Italy. The menu features a good selection of meat, fish and veggie options with a strong focus on seasonal flavours. They recommend about three dishes per person.
Our food arrived in a well-paced fashion, I love eating like this, it’s such a great way to mix and match and enjoy a good variety of different dishes. First to arrive was a fresh and creamy Burrata which was complemented by an authentic tasting pesto, dressed with peppery rocket and juicy little Datterini tomatoes.
Hot and crisp fried batons of zucchini arrived coated in Panko breadcrumb and a Sicilian blood orange salad which tasted divine, with fresh crisp Radicchio, rocket, nuggets of sweet orange and small salty Sicilian olives.
The pasta at Como Garden is handmade, the al dente silky ribbons of tagliolini in a subtle sauce with gentle parmesan notes and topped with luxurious truffle shavings was quite delicious. And the red prawn semolina risotto made with orzo had a great stock and was seafood heaven.
Moving on to a delicious dish of juicy grilled baby chicken which was delicately flavoured with juicy Almalfi lemons. The grilled octopus served with crispy roast potatoes, was beautifully charred and tender with herbal notes of gremolata, drizzled with a piquant red pepper sauce.
The food was well paired with a glass of Musita Sicilian Grillo, a chilled, crisp and lemony white wine with good acidity.
And finally, dessert. You can always tell a good Italian restaurant by its Tiramisu, this was perfect. Deliciously light and creamy with a fabulous crunch of coffee beans.
Como Garden brings a lovely, rather glamorous taste of Italy to West London. And watch out as Alberto and Arian are also opening two new restaurants later this year, in Mayfair and Kingsbridge- a high-end Spanish and French restaurant.
Como Garden
37 Kensington High St
London W8 5ED
020 7937 7287
Opening hours Monday to Saturday: 12pm – 11.30pm Sunday: 12pm – 11pm Terrace Dining: 12pm – 10.30pm
Leave a Reply