Rupert Parker Dines At Dez Amore, A New Restaurant On The Fulham Road.
Dez Amore already has a number of established outlets in London’s food markets but this is their first stand-alone restaurant. It’s a Tuscan partnership between Chef Leonardo Masi, learning pasta making when he was young, and Simone Parentini, the brains behind the business. Their mission is to bring 100% authentic Italian food, using the highest quality ingredients, to London and it certainly seems to be succeeding.
The restaurant sits on a corner on the busy Fulham Road but inside all is cosy rustic charm. It’s themed as a 1970’s Italian grandma’s living room with gold framed B&W photos on the walls. Green tiled tables are spaced generously in front of the open kitchen with plenty of daylight from the huge window. There’s also a more intimate space in the basement but we opt to sit right by the kitchen.
Although there’s waiter service, there’s a pencil to make your mark on the paper menus with your choice. It’s not difficult as there are just three options – Pasta, Pizza Padellino and Burgers. You put a tick next to what you want and hand it to your waiter. The back of the menu has the drinks and we opt for a carafe of house red.
Oh, and there are only two starters – mixed fried vegetables (£9.90) or Parma ham and creamy Burrata with cheese focaccia (£14.90). This is what we share and it comes with fresh rocket and a couple of olives. They say they use only highest quality ingredients and certainly they succeed here. It’s the perfect Italian starter and a good indication of what’s to come.
Next we go for the Ravioli Burro e Salvia (£15.50) from the Pasta section – a classic that sees the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach and bathed in sage and butter. The pasta is perfectly cooked, just the right side of al dente and the sauce is rich without overwhelming the delicate filling. It’s a perfectly sized portion to share.
I’m keen to try the Pizza Padellino – not your traditional wood fired version, but hailing from Turin and baked in a round pan. Indeed the texture is more like Focaccia but none the worse for that and light and airy. The Napoli (£12.90) is topped with tomato, mozzarella, capers, anchovies and oregano and the crust is nicely browned at the edges.
My companion is keen to try the burger so orders the Dez Amore Smash (13.90) – the bun is slightly sweet, almost like a brioche, and inside the beef patty is smashed with white onion, cheese and their special Dez Amore sauce. It’s a good burst of flavour and the fries are crispy thin potato slices, definitely homemade.
Cheesecake (£6.50) is the only item for dessert but you do get to choose one of three toppings – natural, pistachio or chocolate. We go for the nuts and it comes in a glass jar, easy to see the different layers as you poke your spoon inside. Not too sweet and a fine way to end our meal.
This is a neighbourhood restaurant perfectly in tune with its surroundings. It’s as easy to drop in and have just one dish or come here for longer and work through the menu. For this part of town, dishes are keenly priced with wine and beer also very reasonable. If you fancy classic pasta, pizza with a twist and Italianate burgers then come here and make your mark. You won’t be disappointed.
Tell Me More About Dez Amore. Authentic Italian In Chelsea
Dez Amore 273 Fulham Rd., London SW10 9PZ
T: 0204 6130011
