There’s a new Italian which has recently landed in Notting Hill and it’s anything but ordinary. Run by the team behind nearby UKAI, Artisan draws its experience by using some of the very best that Italy has to offer, combining it with Japanese flavours and the master techniques of owner and executive chef Alessandro Verros.
Having dined at nearby Ukai in the past, we really didn’t know what to expect from this Italian venture, but I can confirm now that it completely surpassed our expectations and you could tell that every dish we enjoyed was created with flavour and quality in mind.
As we settled in and looked over the menu, we both started with a cocktail. A punchy Rosemarino for me and a Bronx Tale for my dining companion. With neighbouring restaurant Ukai just around the corner, we knew the cocktails were going to be good here and they most certainly didn’t disappoint.
As you’re sipping on those delicious cocktails, order the home-made bread basket. Focaccia, bread sticks, crisp-bread – it’s all utterly delicious, especially when dipped into that bowl of quality olive oil and balsamic.
Starters here aren’t just plates of beauty, but well-executed dishes packed with so much flavour you’ll be wanting more. My absolute favourite was the warm bruschetta, topped with porcini mushrooms, black truffle and smoked mozzarella. The smell when it arrived was so enticing and one bite transported me to Italian heaven.
Even thinking about this steak tartare now gets me incredibly excited. The balance of it all was so exceptional and it firmly goes onto my list of one of London’s best steak tartare’s. The beautiful soft and full-flavoured beef is mixed with a rich truffle walnut pesto and a good helping of Fossa pecorino cheese. It’s decadent and an absolute pleasure to eat.
One dish which will no doubt become a signature of Artisan is the ravioli they serve. Each piece is stuffed with a chestnut and porcini mushroom filling, then served on top of a rich Fossa cheese fondue. If you love pasta just as much as I do then this plate of food will make you fall in love with the restaurant just as much as I did.
I can still recall tucking into the gargantuan sized veal chop which as a main course really does take a good empty stomach to finish it all. The thick and perfectly cooked veal is coated in a golden Japanese panko bread crumb and served with a Yuzu kosho condiment for extra added flavour. The Japanese element is subtle here, but it works so well. If you have room, order a side of the broccoli with anchovy butter. You won’t be disappointed.
If you still have space for dessert (we always do) then start with the white chocolate pistachio fondant. It’s rich, decadent, sweet and once you break into the middle, that oozing chocolatey centre leaks out onto the plate. Hiding behind that chocolate shard is a scoop of coconut ice cream which was just as good as the fondant.
As my dining companion tucked into their tiramisu and made a bold statement that “it was the best they ever had“. I had to have a few spoonfuls myself, just to confirm such a remark. It was rich, creamy, packed with flavour and also my best to date yet too. Presentation wise it was fantastic and if I had room, I’d have ordered another portion just for myself.
We finished up on a small alcoholic tipple which came complimentary from the kitchen, a lovely way to send us off back into the bustling Portobello Road.
After having dined at Artisan’s sister restaurant Ukai in the past, it was so great to see that the Allesandro magic was still here in its full form at his latest restaurant opening. The food is classic, but excitingly prepared, every dish is packed with so much flavour and the Japanese element offers that extra bit of intrigue. Would we return? In a heartbeat! This is one restaurant you certainly won’t want to miss.
I love Italian food! That mushroom bruschetta looks delicious!