Enjoy seasonal menus in London’s Sycamore Vino Cucina

Why Sycamore Vino Cucina is a must visit

Summer is Italian cuisine’s most vibrant season and thanks to Sycamore Vino Cucina, you’ll be transported across the continent with a tantalising, carefully curated menu from Executive Chef Gary Lee.

Featuring his favourite summertime flavours with an innovative twist, Chef Lee has worked closely with the finest Italian suppliers to execute his vision for Sycamore Vino Cucina in Middle Eight – a luxury lifestyle hotel which opened in the heart of London’s vibrant Covent Garden in October 2020.

The Italian restaurant is central to the hotel’s food and beverage offering. Sycamore Vino Cucina is a large, light-flooded, contemporary bar and restaurant with an authentic all-day Italian menu.

Diners are encouraged to begin their culinary adventure with a sumptuous selection of antipasti. Each dish here invokes a sun-soaked afternoon by the shores of the Italian seaside. There are several enticing options including Pugliese burrata, served on a bed of truffled datterini tomatoes with carta di musica; tiger prawns marinated in salt and sczhuan pepper, breadcrumbed and deep fried; or the fantastically fresh Nicoise salad of bonito del notre tuna, French beans, datterini tomatoes, red onion, new potatoes, anchovy fillets, gordal olives and soft-boiled quail eggs.

Once the taste buds are suitably tantalised, it’s time for the primi. Diners can peruse perfectly prepared pastas, including pea tortelloni, served with fresh peas, ricotta nuggets, grated Amalfi lemon and pangrattato or the showstopping Linguine – thin, flat pasta ribbons with handpicked Devon crab meat, spiced chilli and garlic shellfish sauce.

Our personal favourite among the pasta dishes is the classic pappardelle with a slow braised short rib Bolognese. This was stunning. Its consistency was so smooth and the flavours were deep and nostalgic. It was a joy with every forkful.

Chef Lee has done an incredible job with his sumptuous selection of secondi, where meat and seafood take centre stage. The pick of the bunch is the creative salmon fillet marinated with lemon zest, olive oil and mixed seeds (fennel, chia, flax, white and black sesame). The textures and flavours all compliment each other brilliantly.

You will want to save room for pudding because your memorable meal needs to be completed in style. There’s an impressive variety of decadent desserts to choose from, such as the rich chocolate cake, made up of seven layers with different textures of chocolate and hazelnut (read that back, one more time); orange flavoured sweet dough filled with berries and almond cream, baked until golden brown and topped with ricotta cream; or the ultimate tiramisu for a real Italian classic.

Speaking about his new menu, Chef Lee says: “It’s been a joy developing a menu that celebrates the essence of summertime in Italy. I believe good food should be shared and our guests can come together, celebrate and share the distinct flavours of the sunny isle with fresh flavours and creative recipes designed for a truly enjoyable eating experience.”

For stunning interiors and a classy, seasonal Italian menu then look no further than Sycamore Vino Cucina.

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