Assaggi

Are we going to regret not keeping this one to ourselves?!

Date Description

West, North

This is quite a big claim, but Assaggi may just be our favourite restaurant in the whole of London. There, we've said it. It's just one of those places where even to think of it is enough to cause a wide smile to break out across our faces, and to actually eat there is enough to keep us grinning for a week or two!

So what is it about this place that makes it so special? (…and how is it going to wow the date of your dreams…?!)

First, there's the sense that you've found a secret gem that no-one else in London knows about (excepting the fact that you will have had to book months in advance to have a hope of getting a table, but we'll ignore that for now!). With its entrance tucked away on a side alley off Chepstow Road, it's small (approx 10 - 15 tables), laid back and unfussy - in fact it's so understated and discrete that one of team GDG managed to live just down the road from it for 3 years without even realising it was there!

                

Second must be the truly incredible food and wine… and the obligatory Prosecco aperitif of course! Assaggi is Italian food at its finest. No disappointingly miniscule portions or overly fancy concoctions here, just wonderful ingredients cooked to perfection. The menu is in Italian of course, but don't let that worry you - your friendly waiting staff will take obvious pleasure in describing each mouthwateringly delicious sounding option for you so the only difficulty you'll have will be in making your decision. 

Finally, and in our view most importantly, Assaggi is special because they make you feel special. This is not by grand gestures or trumpet sound (thankfully!) but by treating you like a long lost cousin joining them for dinner in their home. The Italian staff are effortlessly friendly, attentive and great fun - to the extent that they form a central part of your enjoyment of the evening.

I suppose if there is any downside to this wonderful restaurant, it has to be the cost. It's definitely not cheap. Having said that, would it be the experience it is if it wasn't? We think not. Yes, it's not the place for grabbing a spot of pasta on a random Tuesday night, but it most definitely IS the place for a well earned treat or a special occasion… just make sure you book it in time!!!

 

Tags

london north west bayswater notting hill w2 italian food romance special occasion assaggi

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