Superb Italian cuisine at Como Garden – Review

A visit to Como Garden is a transportive trip to the heart of Italy. We dined on a rainy January day, and immediately felt uplifted by the genuine Italian charm and ambiance of the restaurant. The décor is redolent of a trip to Como, all verdant greens, gleaming marble tabletops, and crisp white linen. Dining is based around a delightful indoor olive tree in the centre of the restaurant, with a mix of curved booths and banquette seating around this focal point. Dishes are served on colourful earthenware plates and bowls, all the better to show off the amazing food.

Owners Alberto and Arian Zandi are consummate restauranteurs and have put together a decadent tapas menu. The offering consists of many traditional recipes using their hand-made pasta and fresh delicious ingredients, plus some unexpected modern adaptations, there is plenty to excite the taste buds.

It’s recommended you order two to three dishes per person to allow for a broader dining experience, which is perfect for me as I love to be able to indulge in as many flavours as possible, and saves on any ‘food envy’ when your companion’s dish arrives!

With this sharing concept in-mind we choose a selection of classic dishes accompanied by crisp cold Prosecco. The beef carpaccio was incredibly light and decorated beautifully with little orbs of pesto and delicate shavings of parmesan, accompanied by homemade Italian bread, drizzled with olive oil and rich balsamic. Along with our beef we had a classic Arancini, which was incredibly crispy and warming, the parmesan and fontina cheese melding perfectly together.

Next was the Truffle & Parmesan Tagliolini. Ribbons of home-made pasta, in a light creamy sauce, topped off with some incredibly generous shavings of truffle. My personal favourite, as I’m a huge truffle fan. The depth and opulence of truffle feels so decadant, and is something I wouldn’t generally indulge in at home, which makes the dish even more of a treat.

To accompany our pasta we ordered a light and totally refreshing salad of Sicilian orange, cashews and olives, the crispness marrying up beautifully with the creamy depth of the truffle sauce.

And for the piece de resistance a Tiramisu. For me the benchmark of a great Italian restaurant is not only in the pasta, but the Tiramisu, and this one does not disappoint. Presented in a perfect-for-sharing dish, topped with a thick dusting of chocolate powder, a tiny viola, and crunchy coffee beans, the luxurious texture was like velvet. We felt very spoilt indeed, and I gladly broke my post-Xmas diet!

Written by Claire Bloom

To book visit www.comogarden.co.uk

Photography by Claire Bloom