Santini Restaurant – Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
Santini Restaurant was established in 1984 by Gino Santini. The restaurant is located at 29 Ebury Street in London, SW1W ONZ. Their phone number is +44 (0)20 7730 4094 / 8275. The restaurant is open Monday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The bar stays open until midnight. The restaurant features a private dining room for parties. There is a beautiful bar for those waiting for a table or just wishing to have a few drinks in a very sophisticated atmosphere. Patrons may choose to dine either inside or outside on the beautiful terrace which is at street level. The terrace is lined with beautiful flowers and lighting. It is one of the most elegant outdoor dining experiences we have enjoyed in London. Santini Restaurant also features a private boardroom for those wishing to conduct meetings in a high class setting.
Santini delivers a first-class dining experience on many levels. Reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is always very busy. We were lucky to get a table as a walk-in one evening. However, it was an evening in which London was playing Croatia in the World Cup semi-final so must Londoners were at home or in a bar that was televising the game. The hostess at Santini was extremely friendly and let us choose our own table. A soon as we were seated, a waiter immediately asked us if we wanted any drinks. The waiter returned with our drinks quickly and poured them in a most professional manner. It was clear very quickly that this was first class treatment. The waiter moved in an almost scripted and trained professional rhythm as he poured our drinks and set our table to perfection.
We sat in the outdoor terrace as it was a beautiful warm July night in London. The tables placed in the outdoor terrace were spaced far apart so that everyone felt comfortable in their dining experience. There was almost a Christmas style lighting to the terrace as miniatures lights were lined along the exteriors of the terrace. The place has a very romantic feel.
After drinks were served a waiter walks around the dining area with a bread basket. You choose the bread from the basket that catches your eye. A tasty olive oil is placed on the table for dipping. The bread, olive oil and butter served are all fantastic.
We ordered appetizers of calamari fritti, herb aioli, and beef carpaccio, zucchini, rocket, parmigiano, mint, basil, summer truffle. The calamari were very different from any calamari I have ever tasted. It was lightly breaded, with a firmness that kept the batter from falling off while you ate the calamari. It was light, yet solid enough to satisfy that calamari quench. The beef carpaccio was simply to die for. If you are going to order an appetizer at Santini, the beef carpaccio, zucchini, rocket, parmigiano, mint, basil, summer truffle is the one to choose. You will not be disappointed.
For our main entrees we ordered a grilled scallops dish served with, pumpkin seeds, parsley and parmesan. The grilled scallops were served in beautiful oyster shells. It was a world class presentation that we were very impressed with. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The mix of pumpkin seeds, parsley and parmesan within the dish gave it a world class flavor. This was scallop perfection.
Grilled Scallops – Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
Our other main entree was an order of grilled lamb chops, butterbeans, and ‘chermoula’ pesto. Ordering grilled lamb chops can be risky at times because sometimes the chops are so small that you are done in three or four bites. However, the grilled lamb chops served at Santini were large enough to satisfy as a main entrée meal. They were tender and grilled with a basing that had just a little bit of kick.
Lamb Chops – Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
Overall, dining at Santini Restaurant in the Belgravia section of London is a first-class experience. It is not cheap, but well worth the money. If your looking for a romantic dinner or a place to impress business associates, Santini Restaurant is the right choice.
Santini Restaurant entrance -Photo: Brian Kachejian © 2018
