CHIC Eats

The front-of-house staff are super friendly. Issam, our waiter, is charming, informative and funny, helpfully pointing out that there are photos on Instagram of the dishes and answering our many questions. He brings peach fizz welcome mocktails, bursting with ginger zinginess, to kickstart our palates. And then there’s delicious warm sourdough that we absolutely wouldn’t have demolished if we’d known what was coming: the amazing amuse bouche.

It’s seriously the best washing line ever.

Twice-fried spaghetti balls – crispy, light, airy and delicately seasoned with Parmesan and pepper – are pegged out to dry. Below, there’s an array of finger food including Arancini filled with saffron rice and beef ragu – to call it a flavour explosion would be underselling it.

The menu features dishes from all over Italy, not just the Michelin-starred chef’s hometown of Naples. The Burrata – smooth, creamy and served with truffle cream and a lively tomato salad – is from the north of the country while the Pappardelle con Funghi (made especially for us) – wide ribbons of pasta with mushrooms, cream and hints of basil and sage – is from the deep south. Both are delicious.