In recent years, we've seen a number of high-end Italian restaurants open in London. Restaurants like Il Borro are definitely going for the glitzy side of dining out but Cantinetta Antinori is doing things a little differently. The restaurant has opened in an upscale location in Knightsbridge but somehow manages to make things a little more homely too.
We went along to an early preview lunch to take a look.
The background
Cantinetta Antinori comes from the Antinori family, one of the most famous winemakers in Italy (they first started making wines way back in 1385). For their launch in London, they've teamed up with the Giraudi family, best known in London as the people behind Le Petit Beefbar in Chelsea. The restaurant sees them showcasing their own wines against a background of Tuscan dining.
The space
The look of Cantinetta Antinori is definitely one of its biggest assets. It manages to pull off a combination of beautiful design with a real feeling of cosiness. Eschewing the starker designs of some of London's upscale Italian restaurants, this has a warmer feeling throughout and by being split into smaller separate dining spaces comes across as being much more intimate as a result.
The private dining room is pretty special too:
There are two key parts - the bar on the ground floor and the main restaurant upstairs. The bar in particular is just gorgeous looking. If you're looking for a quick glass of wine and maybe a cicchetti in Knightsbridge, this would be well worth checking out.
The food
The menu is all about Tuscan dining and it's perhaps a shorter menu than you might expect - around 17 dishes in total including sides and desserts. That brevity does sit in its favour though, making it somewhat more approachable. On our visit, we tried out an early set menu so here's a taster of that:
Scottish salmon cured with beetroot
Homemade ravioli filled with burrata, “Vesuvio” tomatoes and homemade Ligurian basil oil
Lamb loin with leeks, borlotti beans, homemade pickled baby carrots and mint sauce
On the full menu, you'll also find dishes like homemade buffalo ricotta gnocchi with clams and grey mullet “bottarga” (£23) as well as desserts like their pistachio tiramisú (£10.50).
The wine
Obviously, wine was always going to play a big part of Cantinetta Antinori and the wine list showcases all the brands that are part of the Antinori estates in Italy, from north to south. The list is split both by region and estate so, for instance, in the Tuscany section you'll find both the Antinori estate itself as well as Peppoli, Tenuta Tignanello and more. Given the strong connection between winemaker and restaurant here, we'd say that getting a helping hand from the sommelier is a must. You will also find a few wines outside of Italy with Antinori estates in both California and Chile represented.
As for the entry-level wine, that's around the £40-£42 price point, with specific hard-to-get vintages available too.
Overall
Offering something a little different from London's more recent upscale Italian restaurants, Cantinetta Antinori manages to create a welcome atmosphere inside a beautifully designed building. It's a perfect haven for Knightsbridge shoppers.
More about Cantinetta Antinori
Where is it? 4 Harriet Street, London SW1X 9JR
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website and follow them on Instagram @cantinettaantinori_london.
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