Discretely nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, Sycamore Vino Cucina is an all-day Italian restaurant and bar and is on a mission to deliver amore to guests in 2022, ideally located inside Middle Eight Hotel. Walking past a buzzing bar eluding a murmur of laughter, the mood was instantly set as soon as we walked through the door. Disco playing in the background with dim lights, it felt like the perfect spot for a cosy Thursday date night. We snuggled into a booth and admired the great décor; aqua green tiles with soft velvet seating, white accented walls with up lighters and gold feature piece wall lamps, it was the perfect mix of sleek and relaxed.

We both instantly commented on how amazing the staff were. Big smiles and welcomes, our waiter, in particular, was cracking jokes with us and the other members of staff, it felt like a really welcoming place to be. Dotted with other diners who were enjoying an equally as chilled out night, there was the kind of vibe you only really get in hotels with an onsite bar/restaurant. Taking our waiter’s advice, we started with a cocktail to assist with choosing our meal. A refreshing Limoncello fizz for myself, and a Honeycomb Old Fashion for my guest – which was impressively finished off with a whole chunk of honeycomb.

The menu offers a selection of Italian fayre, with Napolitano pizzas running alongside Italian meat, fish and veggie classics. We chose a few starters to share between us; Gallette invernale – Potato and celeriac rosti, porcini, chives, Burrata – Creamy cheese, caponata, pine nuts, basil, croutons, and Fregola – Fennel, orange, alfalfa, toasted almond, and a Sardinian fregola salad. All completely different tastes, the creamy burrata offered a moment of indulgence whilst the Fregola had a crisp, detoxifying feel to it. The rosti’s were my favourite, comforting potatoes with a truly decadent porcini sauce, it was rich to the point of perfection.

My guest tucked into a bowl of clams which she assured me were some of the tastiest she has had outside of the seaside, whilst I went for the vegan option; Melanzana – Aubergine schnitzel, red pepper, broccoli, Romesco and caper sauce, almonds. The schnitzel had a wonderful meat-like consistency, smooth and chewy on this inside with a crispy outer layer of golden crumbs. Topped off with al dente broccoli and pickled red peppers, it was a mix of wholesome and nourishing.

Finishing off by sharing a Chocolate fantasy – Chocolate & almond mousse, cherry, vanilla ice cream, the rich dark chocolaty mouse satisfied our sweet cravings following our savoury banquet. Sycamore Vino Cucina is an urban, local hangout with the sharing nature of the dishes creating an atmosphere that is informal and laid-back. Welcoming and bustling during the day, by night the buzz continues as live DJs and musical talent create a vibrant and welcoming social hub. A great date night option, it offers relaxed service with top-notch food, in a beautifully curated hotel restaurant setting.

For more information and to book visit: https://www.middleeight.com/food-drink/sycamore-restaurant-bar

Address: 66 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BX

Written by Jordan Crowley

Photography courtesy of Sycamore Vino Cucina