Just out of Holborn Station, in the heart of Covent Garden you will find the newly opened Sycamore Vino Cucina. Inside the luxury Middle Eight hotel, this northern Italian inspired restaurant is the brainchild of (ex coal shed) chef Paul Robinson.
Drink
Walking into Sycamore Vino Cucina you will be wowed by the bar. With sky high gold shelving filled with bottles, and a ceiling filled with autumnal leaves (I’m sure there is some significance) the bar is quite the looker. There’s no surprise that it’s home to 15 types of negronis and a wine list that spans the depths of Italy (as well as some other countries).
Food
In true Italian fashion, Sycamore Vino Cucina’s menus are created for sharing. With homemade pizzas, hand rolled pastas and pit grilled meats, the essence of Italy definitely comes through the food. They also have a cicchetti counter where you can enjoy some smaller plates.
I ate from the main menu, starting with the crocchetta di gamberi, a deliciously creamy burrata and the cozze con pesto (aka mussels with pesto) which was a decent size for a starter. It tasted pretty good but not the best I’ve had, however it was a nice change having mussels with pesto instead of a garlic or white wine sauce.
On to the mains! I obviously chose the cacio e pepe. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you will know that I’m very hard to please when it comes to Cacio e Pepe. I am constantly coming back to Padella’s version, which is my absolute favourite. This one wasn’t bad, but it’s not at the top of my list. The salsicce & friarielli pizza had a great sourdough base, but not enough toppings for my liking.
For the finale I had the amaretti cheesecake, which was presented wonderfully. A crumbled base on a bed of amaretti syrup, topped with luxurious whipped cheese and just the right amount of sweetness. This was definitely my favourite course.
Price
On first impressions of Sycamore Vino Cucina, I was expecting a hefty bill. But don’t judge a restaurant by its beautiful looking bar. For five cocktails, two bottles of wine, four starters, five mains and a dessert, the bill came up to a very reasonable £275 or £55 each including tip.
Overall
If you’re bored of your regular Italian restaurant and fancy a change, or want to wow a date at the bar, head to Sycamore Vino Cucina. The food was ok, the surroundings were nice, I’d go if I was in the area, but probably wouldn’t make a special trip.
Book a table here.
One Response
Always a pleasure to read these reviews. Thank you. =)