Phat Food Reviews

A menu curated by award-winning chef, Jake Brindley. A contemporary take on classical Italian Christmas dishes.

Welcomed in by owner Bruno Buccelli and chef Jake Brindley, I immediately felt the Christmas spirit as I was seated at my table. Having pre-selected my courses when booking, I was excited to taste my first course of Aubergine Parmigiana – a simple dish relying on quality ingredients. The parmigiano subtly complemented the richness of the creamy roasted aubergine, whilst the earthiness of the fresh basil really rounded the dish out. The umami of the aubergine, combined with the saltiness of the hard cheese was only enhanced by the sublime textures.

Well warmed up by the first dish, I was eager to enjoy my main: the venison lasagna. I was apprehensive about this dish, expecting it to be heavy and overly rich. It was, however, far from it. The dish managed to remain light and fresh, with the inclusion of basil and restraint exercised in the seasoning. The fresh layers of pasta were the ideal thickness, not over facing, as I enjoyed the rich yet delicate venison meat. Meat that had been cooked to perfection, almost creamy as it fell apart in my mouth. The bechamel sauce was textbook, marrying the meat and pasta perfectly. All round a brilliant dish, likely the best lasagna I’ve eaten in the UK.

Following these two delicious savoury dishes, there was only one thing I wanted for dessert. Pannetone bread and butter pudding, a clever take on a traditional British pudding – with an Italian twist. A generous portion of pannetone bread and butter pudding, with a delicate citrus cream on the side, this dish is a triumph. Managing to be luxurious and refined, as well as decadent. This is a dessert I’ve tried before and each time I taste it, I am transported to my childhood – eating bread and butter pudding with my family. Only, this dish has been elevated with the touch of Italian that the chef has so cleverly inserted into such an iconic dessert.

To cap off my Italian Christmas it simply had to be espresso, doppio (double) for me, as I can never have enough caffeine. A simple black coffee to send me off into the cold winter air. I would like to say a massive thank you to Buccelli’s for welcoming me in once again, you always provide a fantastic meal and this was one of the best I’ve had in a long time.

5 stars for Buccelli’s – I’ll be back soon!