On the sweep of Kensington High Street, where London moves with its usual purpose, Como Garden feels like an oasis. You step inside and the pace shifts almost immediately. Golden light pours in, catching on trailing greenery and soft, sun-warmed tones. The big red buses and gleaming black taxis outside feel like a world away. It feels less like a restaurant and more like a conservatory somewhere far south, an imagined corner of Lake Como.
Plants spill from every angle, tables glow under the afternoon light, and the whole room carries that gentle energy of an oasis, in the way it makes you forget, just briefly, where you are.
The concept is simple. Italian tapas, a menu that draws from across the country, designed to be shared. Around three dishes per person is suggested, though that quickly feels like a guideline rather than a rule. The temptation to order just one more is constant.
A glass of Prosecco DOC Frizzante sets everything into motion, light, bright, unmistakably Italian. Alongside it, the wine list offers a thoughtful selection: a softly blushed Pinot Grigio from Veneto, a floral Malvasia from Puglia, or a deeper, more grounding Sangiovese from Emilia Romagna. Each feels entirely at home here.
Food arrives as it’s ready. The bruschetta is exactly what you hope for, fresh tomato, basil, good olive oil – simple, but done with care. The arancini follow, crisp on the outside, giving way to molten parmesan and fontina at the centre. They disappear quickly.
There is a confidence in the way Como Garden approaches its menu. It doesn’t try to reinvent Italian food; it simply brings together the dishes people return to, again and again, and executes them well.
The paccheri alla carbonara is rich and comforting, the pasta is made fresh daily by the in-house Italian chef, carrying the sauce beautifully. Alongside it, the pizzas are absolutely delicious: a classic margherita and the spicy picante, which adds just enough heat to keep things interesting.
A goat’s cheese and fig salad, soft and slightly sweet, offers contrast. The parmesan steak tartare is more indulgent, finely cut and deeply flavoured. Meatballs with datterino tomatoes bring warmth and comfort, while the grilled octopus, served with fava bean mash and olive oil, is perhaps the most composed, tender, thoughtful, quietly impressive. Don’t forget to order the oven-roasted potatoes, crisp and golden, and homemade Italian bread.
Last but certainly not least, the roasted tiramisu is indulgent and deeply comforting, while the torta di mandorle – paired with pistachio gelato is nutty and fragrant. Both feel like the perfect ending. Como Garden captures the romance of Italy without becoming theatrical and celebrates the familial ease of sharing.
@como.garden | comogarden.co.uk
37-45 Kensington High St, London W8 5ED
