That the Italians do it best is a well known slogan; but with Sicilian flare, Sicilia Mia manages to give some of the best Italian restaurants in London a run for their money.

It would be fair to say that if any of the Kardashians or influencers of this world descended on Sicilia Mia, you’d be hard pressed to ever make a reservation. This would be solely because a big secret would have been unearthed: that Sicilia Mia harbours some of the best Italian food we’ve had in London. Yet the restaurant is not necessarily seeking the jet setting crowd: it welcomes those who are appreciative of great food and a slice of authenticity.

Understated yet elegant, the interiors of Sicilia Mia draw a parallel to the food here. Upon arriving and ordering an aperitif, we are immediately presented with the oh-so moreish pane all’aglio – garlic bread with an incredibly delicious aioli-like dip. An appreciated gesture, considering the menu at Sicilia Mia is comprehensive and, even for the most dedicated pizza fans, would have you studying with gusto all of the tempting dishes on offer.

We started our gastronomic odyssey with the Arancino di salmone (Stuffed rice ball with smoked salmon, béchamel sauce and aioli sauce) and the Tagliolini al pesto (Home made fresh tagliolini with home made pesto – basil, garlic, parmesan, pine nuts and EVO oil).

The arancino was a small collection of delectable delights. A smooth bechamel sauce caresses the smoked salmon, with the salty and fatty combination being utterly irresistible. The tagliolini had a similar subtlety of flavour: the homemade pesto is seemingly massaged into the tagliolini, with the quality of the EVO oil making this a superior dish to others in London. An excellent initiation both in terms of quality and size portions!

Our main courses were equally exciting. We selected the Capricciosa (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, ham, mushroom, olives) and for the sake of difference and intrigue, the Tagliata di Tonno in crosta di pistacchi con guacamole (Sliced tuna in a pistachio crust, served with guacamole).

The pizza here has a special ingredient: the dough is pre-prepared three days in advance, allowing for the dough to become not only more pliable, but easier to digest. There is also another secret in the ingredients: the special combination create an irresistible product that only the Italians are capable of producing. The capricciosa, my companion proclaimed, was the best pizza he had had in London. The mix of salty (olive and ham) with the creamy mozzarella is tantalizingly delicious and a sure fire way to ensure diners indulge and eat all of the pizza.

The tagliata di tonno was a wild card. There is no doubt that in Italian classics (pizza, pasta and ‘dolce’), Sicilia Mia excels. We decided to see if the same quality remained in fish dishes – and we were not disappointed. Cooked to a rare perfection (that Mayfair counterparts have trouble with), the tuna was succulent and delicate at the same time. The pistachio crust was a subtle aftertaste that created an incredibly indulgent dish. 10/10 for this dish!

Next up was the ‘dolce’. We were presented with a veritable smorgasbord of desserts. From the classic ‘tiramisu’ – here a light and fluffy version – to the Crostata di fragoline (Shortcrust pastry with Chantilly cream and wild strawberries) – a robust yet silky pastry, highlighted by the tang of wild strawberries – to the St. Moritz (Chocolate sponge cake) – a chocolate bombshell of a desert, everything on the desert menu was a temptation and delicious to boot. (We look forward to re-visiting and sampling the rest!)

A word on the wine: Sicilia Mia has a comprehensive (and rather enviable) wine list with fine wines hailing from all corners of the world. We would suggest, in line with the restaurant’s theme, degustating a Sicilian wine, which the friendly waiters and waitresses are happy to suggest.

Address: 84 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RT, UK

Phone: +44 20 3972 2075

https://www.siciliamialondon.co.uk/

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