Pizzicotto, sister restaurant to the Kensington gem ‘il portico’ has been causing a stir on the London Restaurant scene. Famous for their Charcoal Based Pizza this is not the only showstopper they serve here but they also serve up an unbeatable authentic and traditional Italian fayre. As a food writer, Italian cuisine can be hard to come by and get right. We live in a city which celebrates Pizza and Pasta and in a takeaway generation, there are many much-loved chains that consumer tend to stick to. However, when looking for Italian food at it’s finest we want to have it all and Pizzicotto delivers not only a menu which is true to Italy but an ambience and atmosphere worthy of a true Mediterranean experience.
Nestled at the quieter end of High St. Ken lies this hidden gem set behind a beautiful green frontage, this is not the stereotypical Italian trattoria but something light and airy and instantly welcoming. The restaurant is adorned with huge trees inside the building itself and an open wood fired Pizza oven and I genuinely feel like I’m a thousand miles from London. My guest is late but i’m pleased because this is somewhere I would gladly eat alone and soak up the atmosphere… and the huge Aperol Spritz my server brings over. The aperitif selection is typically Italian and it would be rude not to start my dinner with a glass of Aperol and have some Garlic Focaccia while i’m waiting. Normally i’m not one to fill up on bread but there is something light and more-ish about it.
The menu is ample and true to Italian style, everything you could want is on there. They serve up a wide range of Antipasti and Starters; Bruschetta, Speciality Cheeses and Meats and Primi Pastas, which can also be served as mains, our server helps our decision. She explains to us Culatello Di Zibello is a very fine cured ham like Prosciutto and extremely rare so we jump at the chance to try this out, and we also opt for the classic Pork Belly Tagliatelle. She’s right, the Culatello tastes as precious as it is and I can only describe it as a melt in the mouth, cured meat heaven and very much worth the journey to Pizzicotto just to try the Culatello. Always having tried Tagliatelle with Beef, the difference in flavour when made me with Pork Belly is remarkable. The texture is much more tender, the flavour richer and meatier and the portion size is perfect as a starter plate.
The Charcoal Based Pizza is what we really came here for but with a mammoth selection of toppings we spend a while deciding on this too. As well as this we decide to order one of their grilled dishes and opt for the Tartare Grade Tuna Steak served with Fennel Salad. We share both, but to be perfectly honest, the Pizza was so light that I could have polished off the Pizza as well as the Tuna they were that delicious. Don’t be put off by the burnt look of the Pizza, it’s all charcoal and if that doesn’t turn you on, the taste is no different and the benefits of activated charcoal speak for themselves. Having cut down on Pizza’s recently due to the effects of wheat in my body, activated charcoal base is a real blessing and we can talk about it as much as we like but the proof is in the pudding, or in this case the Pizza, there really is no bloat and the fact I could have easily have eaten the whole thing without undoing my jeans is evidence enough. The Tuna was grilled to absolute perfection and the Fennel Salad accompanied well. I had never thought to try Tuna with Fennel as it’s quite a heavy, meaty fish but the two combined to create the flavour of the sea harmoniously. We paired both dishes with a delicious Sauvignon Bianco which was crispy and fresh and served in a huge glass. Perfecto!
Finally we were treated to the specials on the Dessert menu which included Nutella Pizza!! I bet you can guess what we ordered, and thankfully it wasn’t a full-sized Pizza but one slice which we paired with a raspberry Ice Cream. Both were indulgent, heavenly but still light! How Pizzicotto have managed to balance the huge Italian Flavours with the light as air Pizzas and Pastas is nothing short of remarkable and this is certainly the type of Italian where you can appreciate the quality of the produce and not feel uncomfortably stuffed. The highlight was The Activated Charcoal Pizza so it’s definitely worth the trip here to grab yourself a slice of that but overall the entire menu was divine from start to finish. This is certainly an Italian I will be recommending. Cin Cin.