Wave good-bye to menu minefields – simple, fuss-free dining has arrived in the City with the opening of La Tagliata on Sandy’s Row where one dish is the star of the show. Specialising in the traditional Tuscan dish of the restaurant’s name, expect a handful of dishes based on authentic Italian recipes served in a contemporary space designed around the rooms of an Italian villa.
Here it’s all about the hero dish la tagliata – English sliced strip loin steak from a family-run Smithfield butcher, recommended served medium rare, on a bed of rocket, parmesan and cherry tomatoes with a balsamic reduction.
Other dishes from the modest but perfectly formed menu created by head chef Antonio Tonelli and team include, to start, tagliatelle, freshly made daily, with a choice of three seasonal sauces – for example limone, pomodoro or pesto. Then there’s the vegetarian main course option of oven-baked scamorza – a smoked Italian cheese similar to mozzarella, stuffed with porcini mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and truffle paté.
At only 650 calories for a starter and main course the menu is ideal for a lunch that won’t end up on the hips or have you sleeping at your desk.
Where to sit?
The hardest choice is where to sit. From the Dispensa (pantry); Salotto (drawing room); or Studio (study); to the Sala da Pranzo (dining room); Biblioteca (library); Cantina (wine cellar); and Salla della Musica (music room) there’s an intimate space for everyone to relax and enjoy the laid back setting that mixes contemporary design with charming nods to an Italian villa.
Quirky touches include bespoke Modigliani-style paintings and bottle-lined walls, as well as bookshelves laden with classic tomes and cubbyholes with vintage pasta machines. For private events, the Biblioteca with its wardrobe-style door and Salotto, complete with secret bookshelf entrance, offer ideal, secluded spaces for up to 10 diners. Alternatively, the Cantina, with open doorway, also provides an intimate space for 10 diners.
La Tagliata, 11 Sandy’s Row, London E1 7HW
020 7247 2818