Authentic Italian fare at Sanzio

Spotlight on Sanzio in London

Sanzio is a bustling, family-style Italian restaurant located in Willesden Green. Created by Maria Sundrica, it offers dishes similar to those served by Sundrica’s grandmother at her childhood home on the Adriatic Sea. Sanzio is all about uncomplicated food done really well, and the team places a huge importance on locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. The dishes are designed for sharing – a practice in which the Italians are well-versed — and everything is super fresh. Indeed: the only thing in the kitchen freezers, according to Sundrica, are Sanzio’s homemade Italian gelato. This Italian eatery might be small, but it certainly is mighty. Offering a slice of Southern Italy right in the heart of London, Sanzio has built quite the reputation for itself — and it’s easy to see why.

Scenes

One of the most striking things about Sanzio is just how pretty it is. The main dining room is incredibly inviting, with large windows welcoming in plenty of light, pretty Scandi inspired wooden chairs, and large marble tables topped with fine glassware. The soft pendulum lighting makes the place feel cosy and intimate, and coupled with the many wine bottles lining the walls, it almost feels as if you’ve gone round for dinner at a friend’s house, in the best possible way.

Last year, Sanzio introduced an outdoor dining area, perfect for warmer months, but well-stocked with thick blankets and heaters to see customers through the winter-time too. Decked out in fairy lights, rough white stone flooring, and six or seven bushy olive trees — squint and you could be in the Med! Needless to say that the restaurant’s settings make for the perfect location to celebrate private parties and special occasions. Sanzio caters for a range of events: holding up to 80 people for a sit-down meal, or up to 150 guests for a stand-up, buffet-style party. Whatever your occasion, the team are dedicated to arranging a menu that will satisfy your budget and taste buds in equal measure.

Crowd pleasers

A brilliant time is easy to be had with a menu as delectable as the one offered at Sanzio. It centres around three well-loved Italian staples: pizza, pasta and salad. It sounds simple, but with nowhere much to hide, great care and attention has been put into all the dishes. And it shows. The pizzas are all expertly prepared, with pleasingly chewy bases, crispy, slightly-charred crusts, and piping-hot lip-smacking toppings. Our favourites include the Fornarina, prepared with buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms, truffle oil and parmesan cheese (without tomato sauce), and the Napoletana, topped with salty anchovies, capers, black, olives, and garlic.

The pasta dishes are equally pleasing, as fresh as you like and sourced from Italian suppliers near Venice. The bolognese is cooked with love (or at least a good four / five hours on the stovetop!), and the Pasta Frutti di Mare (filled with squid, mussels, prawns, and a touch of chilli) feels luxurious but light, and will transport you to a warmer climate. Alongside these crowd-pleasers sits a handful of seasonal specials, which change on a daily basis. Examples include Sicilian squid with parsley, white wine and tomatoes, honey and fresh thyme served on top of toasted ciabatta and polenta chips. Whatever is available, we guarantee that there will be something to tantalise all taste buds, and if you’re ever in doubt, the friendly waiting staff are on hand to offer their suggestions.

Drinks supply

Expert advice might come in handy if you’re thinking about pairing your food with wine (or any other beverage). The drinks menu isn’t overwhelming though, and it’s been carefully curated. With everything from juicy, fruit-driven whites – we love the Greco di Tufo, irresistibly packed with notes of melon and almond – to robust, full-bodied reds, no one will feel lest out. Besides, there are also stellar beer and cocktail offerings too! Alongside the usual suspects (Peroni, Birra Moretti), there are a couple of Italian craft beers and ciders for those who are looking to push the boat out.

Cocktail-wise, expect classic numbers like Aperol Spritz and Strawberry Mojitos, as well as a selection of more unusual tipples — for instance the ‘cocktail of the week’, which always shines a spotlight on lesser known liquors. For those avoiding alcohol, the team are happy to whip up a bespoke ‘virgin’ cocktail, and there’s even a selection of 0 per cent alcohol wines. Wow!

Sweet stuff

It wouldn’t be an Italian dinner without dessert, so without further ado we move onto Sanzio’s perfect puds. All homemade in-house, and all as decadent as the next, it’s tricky to narrow down our favourite. Perhaps you don’t have to though, and do as the Italians do and order a selection for the table. The tiramisu is perfectly cloud-like and smacks of booze and coffee, just as you’d hope. Equally rich is the chocolate torte: flourless and dense, made with ground-up hazelnuts and served with a single scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, it’s surely the most grown-up dessert on the menu. For those seeking something beyond chocolate (we’re not judging, promise…), there’s a gorgeous Italian cheesecake, which is prepared using ricotta – as opposed to cream cheese – and topped with lemon zest. Like the main menu, Sanzio also offers up a seasonal dessert of the day, and its this option which tends to pack the most punch. We throughly enjoyed the winter-inspired meringue with mascarpone and berry compote, and look forward to seeing what’s on offer in the upcoming months.

It’s difficult not to view Sanzio’s with anything but fondness. Fondness not only for the restaurant’s conviviality and ability to welcome its customers so warmly, but fondness too for its authentic, non-pretentious Italian fare. The team manage to cook-up meals which are redolent of home-cooking, but are presented beautifully, all pleasing on the eye as well as the stomach. Whether you’re visiting with a large group of friends, celebrating date-night, or catching up with family — a trip to Sanzio’s never fails to please.

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