Pellicano Restaurant (Restaurant)

Top 10 things you need to know about Pellicano:

1) You’ll be greeted like a long-lost member of the family. On duty: Pietro, making you feel immediately welcome with the friendly manner that Italian restaurateurs truly pull off with sincerity.

2) Sardinian food is underrated and under discovered. Neapolitan, Milanese, Venetian and Tuscan are globally-renowned Italian dishes – but who’s heard of culurgiones? Pellicano does the “regional Italian thing” very well: choose rustic dishes such as slow-cooked baby octopus with polenta, and succulent veal chops.

3) Take your pick of the fantastic Sardinian wines from local producers, such as Vermentino whites and Monica reds. Pietro will give you a run-down of where they’re all from – apparently the maritime climate of the pine-fringed island gives the wine distinct characteristics.

4) The decor is low-key but fun. Set against a blood orange wall is a depiction of The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (keep an eye out for the pelican and the London Eye). What Lewis Carroll would have made of it is anyone’s guess.

5) You’ll be rubbing cashmere-clad shoulders with well-heeled locals. A handful of couples and singles turn up and immediately settle into what seems to be their usual tables – 90% of the clientele are local, apparently.

6) You’d struggle to eat better, or cheaper, elsewhere in Chelsea at lunchtime. On the set menu - two courses for £19.50 or three for £22.50 – there’s a choice of four starters, four mains and three desserts.

7) Pecorino will become your new favourite cheese. Move over mascarpone and roll over ricotta, the sheep’s cheese here is in both savoury and sweet dishes, such as culurgiones (Sardinian ravioli filled with potato, pecarino and mint) and seadas (a sweet pastry filled with pecarino). Produce of Sardinia, naturally.

8) This may be in one of London’s most exclusive suburbs, but there’s not a hint of stuffiness in this Chelsea restaurant. It’s a great place to relax with your beau long into the evening after a day at work, or a weekend lunch spot for the family over a bowl of pasta or a pizza.

9) Make sure you leave room for dessert. OK, the omnipresent tiramisu is on the menu, but there are plenty of unusual options, each made on site.

10) If you’re offered an aperitif, opt for the Sardinian myrtle liqueur. It’s possibly called Mirto – everything was a bit of a blur after that....read more