Heading west to Kensington High Street transported me back to my Fashion Week days, when West London was my playground as I trotted along to the shows at the Natural History Museum.
The Restaurant
Como Garden restaurant, with its side entrance, stirred a flicker of recognition as it had been the base for several late-night feasts. Fast forward a few years, and I was happy to revisit the Italian-style diner, which rekindled a welcome sense of nostalgia and happy memories.
Not just a place to eat, it is a cleverly curated illusion of Lake Como without the EasyJet flight, delays or lost luggage stress! However, it boasts a pretty spectacular entrance, as a sweeping olive tree oversees the dining room, its branches stretching toward frescoed ceilings and Greco-Renaissance statues. Marble arches lend grandeur, and intimate booths are perfect for date nights! If George Clooney himself had walked in and ordered a Negroni, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
Owned by the Zandi twins (Arian and Alberto), who have become quite influential in London’s dining scene, they are also responsible for Zuaya across the street. Their concept here is disarmingly simple: Italian tapas. Forget sprawling plates of pasta intended for one -at Como Garden, dining is designed to be shared. The menu traces a leisurely journey from northern Italy to the sunlit south, encompassing traditional favourites as well as impressive showstoppers.
Cocktail Hour
On a balmy September evening, my friend and I popped in for a pre-show dinner, and our evening naturally began with cocktails. The Cupido—rum, amaretto, strawberries, lemon—was as pretty as it was playful, a whisper of almond adding a flirtatious edge. My companion’s Lago Amaranto proved the more complex sip: gin, Italian limoncello, blackberry and egg-white foam combining in a frothy, violet-hued glass that felt like liquid poetry. I stole more than a sip; it was too good to resist.
The Joy of Grazing
The beauty of Italian tapas is you don’t have to commit! The menu recommends three plates per guest, but with so much temptation, restraint is futile! I am a pescatarian, but vegetarians and vegans are well catered for, and sharing with my friend was a perfect combination.
We started with fried zucchini, crisp and golden, dipped into silky basil mayo; plump arancini arrived like small works of art – plump, rich and gooey.
From there, our table became a little tour of Italy. A Sicilian-style caponata of aubergine, tomato and pine nuts shimmered with that perfect sweet-sour agrodolce balance. A Sicilian orange salad, scattered with olives and hazelnuts, was a revelation: bright citrus, bitter, nutty, palate-cleansing.
Seafood is a particular strength. The grilled octopus, tender yet charred just so, transported me straight to a trattoria on the Amalfi Coast. For comfort, there were patatine frites with Parmesan, salty and indulgent. And then, the moment everyone secretly comes for—the black truffle and Parmesan tagliolini. Rolled to the table in a hollowed Parmesan wheel, it was tossed and swirled before our eyes, theatrics matched only by its heady flavour. If luxury had a taste, it would be this.
Atmosphere
The staff were efficient and helpful, and perfectly capable of advising on dishes – especially when we were torn between our last plate, and the low background music and dimmed lighting was the ideal vibe for catching up on gossip. However, elsewhere in the restaurant, a larger table was celebrating a party, but it didn’t affect our intimate spot.
The Verdict
Como Garden is not just dinner, it is an occasion. I felt as though you’d stepped into a Fellini set, or wandered into a film noir with a sumptuous set and showstopping cocktails. For romance, for friendship, for those who like their meals flavoured with a touch of travel fantasy, Como Garden is a rare delight. It is Kensington’s love letter to Italy.
Como Garden
37 Kensington High Street
London
W8 5ED
United Kingdom
