Review: Kensington Italian Restaurant Como Gardens

The culture, the food, the scenery, the food, the sun, and did I mention the food?

If you’re dreaming of Italy like I am, you'll be pleased to know I recently discovered a restaurant in London that makes you feel like you’re in Italy, and not just because of the food.

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Como Garden's arancini Amatriciana (Image: Como Garden)

The interiors at Como Garden in Kensington is the stuff of my dreams, with Lake Como-inspired green-leaf walls and a stunning lit-up tree in the middle of the restaurant.

I went to the restaurant on a Thursday night, because Thursday is the new Friday, after all.

It was busy, buzzy and had a romantic, vibey atmosphere.

We started off with the Lago Amaranto cocktail - one of the restaurant's signature tipples. 

It was suitably sweet, definitely alcoholic, and gave me that on-holiday-in-Italy feeling.

Como Garden's Tiramisu (Image: Como Garden)

For starters, my dining partner and I shared burrata with pesto and Datterini tomato salad.

I’m a real sucker for burrata, and I’d like to think I’ve had my fair share at Italian restaurants across London, and the one at Como Garden was up there with the best I've had. 

The tomatoes were fresh, the pesto was tasty and the cheese perfectly cheese-y, without feeling too filling.

We ordered a portion fried zucchini with this, and these were also divine - not too greasy and a lovely taster of what was to come. 

Como Garden's lamb chops (Image: Como Garden)

For main course I tried the sea bass alla Siciliana – pan seared sea bass with cherry tomatoes.

Admittedly I don’t often go for cooked fish in Italian restaurants, and I am usually more of a pizza or pasta person, but this fish was succulent and cooked to perfection.

My dining partner had the truffle and ricotta tortelloni alla carbonara – and said this was delicious as well.

We had chips and broccoli to go with our mains, and they were cooked to perfection and were a good addition.

Even though we had definitely had enough food by this point, it felt rude not to order dessert. Also, a couple of pornstar martinis and a glass of Italian white wine down, I’m not one to say no to any kind of chocolate.

Como Garden's romantic interiors (Image: Como Garden)

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We didn’t actually look at the dessert menu, but instead went with the dough balls recommended by our friendly waiter which came in a generous portion and filled with chocolate, caramel and pistachio. 

Well, wow. That’s pretty much all I can say about these. Though bursting at the seams as I was, these chocolate filled dough balls was exactly what I needed on a delicious food and alcohol-lined stomach.

Address: 37-45 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8 5ED

Website: comogarden.co.uk