Rossopomodoro Review

“Rossopomodoro means pure tomato shaped heart, which spreads our traditions and flavours around the world”. This is what the menu promises. It also assures punters that: “All our chefs are 100% natives from the traditional Neapolitan cuisine school”. Seeing as this restaurant is an olive spitting distance from Pizza Express and Café Nero, does it really offer something more authentic than just an Italian accent when sounding out its six syllable name?

Well the staff are certainly bona fide Italiano. Armed with a Mediterranean confidence, the waiters are charmingly arrogant and happy to instruct you what food you should be eating and which wine to wash it down with. They’ll even go so far as to refuse you courses if they fear it won’t compliment your choices.

The starter of ’O Furmagg – a fondue of typical Neapolitan cheeses with crunchy polenta is a delicious choice for a sharing starter. Half the restaurant is taken up by a bustling open plan kitchen and huge stone bake oven, making pizza the natural choice for a main dish. Crisp and tasty, the flavours come alive without being overpowered by dough and cheese. Those experiencing a carb and dairy overload after a lack of bread chewing control should opt for the refreshingly stodge free option of clam spaghetti – al dente pasta, sweet cherry tomato and a generous helping of shellfish

Portions are overly generous, matched with a completely reasonable price tag considering the ingredients are authentic, fresh and plentiful. There’s a good choice of both food and drink on the menu and the specials are regularly re-jigged to offer regulars something new.

It’s a popular spot so expect a small queue if you’re un-booked and hungry at 8pm on the Fulham Road. The décor is modern but not without character and there’s a lively Friday night feeling that’s certainly more atmospheric than any chain restaurant offers. Only one complaint – the hundreds of big jars of Italian sauce teasing you along the restaurant walls don’t really contain the secret recipe of Italiano sauce, they are there purely for decoration. Excuse that and Rossopomodoro is certainly the superior choice to its neighbouring faux Italian competition.
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Deborah James 19 Mar 2009

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Italian
• Group: Rossopomodoro