THE ITALIAN JOB
Antico
ANTICO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE BAR BRINGS INSPIRING ITALIAN FARE TO BERMONDSEY STREET
They say Italians do it better, and case in point is Italian restaurant and lounge bar Antico on the culinary mile of Bermondsey Street. Housed at the former site of a covered antiques market – referenced by its nostalgic name – this elegant neighbourhood eatery is fast becoming a favourite with foodies.
The Restaurant: Buon Appetito!
Half-Italian owner Nick Crispini and head chef Nicholas Schizas – previously of Theo Randall at the Intercontinental and most recently ex-chef de partie at José Pizarro’s eponymous tapas bar – have created a weekly-changing menu that champions seasonal Italian fare.
Freshly-baked focaccia gets things off to a good start – seasoned with olive oil and salt – and can be enjoyed with a refreshing Aperol Spritz. Starters include burrata with prosciutto braciotto, rocket & fresh chilli, and prawn & squid fritti with fresh chilli & basil aioli. When it comes to mains, the star of the show is freshly-made pasta – signatures include slow-roasted pork shoulder tortelloni and fresh baby tomato, black olive, chilli and basil fettucini – whilst dishes from the grill include pan-roasted wild black bream, tomatoes, capers, olives and spinach; pan-roasted lamb rump, caponata and mint oil; and roasted guinea fowl on bruschetta with kale and lemon mascarpone. For desserts, Nick is passionate about his homemade gelato – choose between espresso and dark chocolate – whilst famously light tiramisu and sorbetto round things off nicely.
The menu is complemented with an exclusively Italian, single-estate wine list – a collection carefully curated by Nick himself – and features no less than 40 bins divided by style with tasting notes for each and a well-edited selection available by the glass.
And with set menus – two courses for £15, three courses for £18 – brunch and Sunday roasts, there’s something for all; ladies-who-brunch can enjoy a tender tuna steak with grilled treviso, capers and balsamic washed down with a crisp Pinot Grigio; on-the-go business folk can talk shop over a 1kg bone-in rib 35-day aged bistecca alla Fiorentina with rocket & parmesan; and first-daters can linger over a ragu pappardelle – Lady & The Tramp-style – and a rich Chianti.
The Bar: Salute!
Those who prefer sustenance of the liquid variety can head downstairs to the cool, contemporary lounge – headed up by bar manager Patricio Pedra, and open to non-diners – for a pre- or post-dinner tipple. Stylish bar hawks can enjoy a menu of Aperol, Campari and prosecco in similarly stylish surroundings – think low stools, colour-changing lighting and a widescreen TV screen that doubles as a mirror for mid-sip preening. Cocktails include classics such as a perfectly-made negroni as well as a range of inventive after-dinner delights such as the Jammy Dodger – Absolut Kurant, Smirnoff Vanilla, Frangelico and Chambord – and the Italian Flip, made from Amaretto, port, crème de cacao and nutmeg.
The Design: Putting The Boot In
The restaurant itself – Nick’s own vision – is a chic, contemporary take on a rustic Italian dining room, incorporating bare-brick walls, chocolate-brown leather banquettes and blackboards chalked up with farm-fresh cuts of the day. And with floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s the perfect perch to people-watch and while away an afternoon or evening with good company – and even better food.
Antico – drawing on inspiration from the Med to the mountains, this is regional Italian fare at its most inspiring.
For more details, news and offers, please check twitter @AnticoLondon and facebook.com/AnticoLondon
Antico Restaurant & Lounge Bar,
214 Bermondsey Street,
London, SE1 3TQ
Open: Restaurant; Tues-Fri 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm Sat 11am-3pm & 6-10.30pm Sun 10am-3pm; Lounge; Tues-Wed 5-11pm Thurs 5pm-12am Fri-Sat 5pm-1.30am
Tel: 020 7407 4682, www.antico-london.co.uk