Article by
Tony Burge:
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HumanHi At Biagios
Biagios ... modern Italy in a box
Mediterranean cuisine is such a staple of the British diet, and there’s always the obligatory pasta dish on the menus of every gastropub. Italian restaurants wanting to stay a cut above their competitors have to up their game to stay on a HumanHi. One such restaurant is Ristorante Biagio. The best kept secret in Mayfair; firstly you will have to find the place. Although is just a few minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Circus and just across the road from the Royal Academy of Arts, due to its narrow and unassuming exterior, you may even walk by and never get to sample what can only be described as little modern Italy in a box.
Ristorante Biagio is actually set over four floors, something of a Tardis, with a groovy cocktail bar in the basement, a stylish cafe and bar on the ground and the main restaurant on the first floor, and a second, more intimate restaurant area with a beautiful romantic skylight, not surprisingly all the floors are very popular for both private and corporate hire.
Biagio Restaurant Group boast six London based establishments, they are just in the process of re-opening their Wardour Street Restaurant, but 189 Piccadilly is clearly its jewel in the crown, and one which the loving owners have spend a lavish amount of money on a very contemporary refurbishment . It’s modern, fresh and defiantly clean, with wood flooring and natural brickwork, coupled with red and cream walls and large photographic murals and abstract prints.
The first floor restaurant has a wall length bottle bank made up of the entire wine list displayed in an impressive glass display case. It has Philip stark inspired chairs teamed with cream leather banquet seating, creating a perfect modern Dolce Vita moment, which works, as does the food, which was reasonably priced and imaginative selection of dishes inspired by traditional food from the Liquria of Northern Italy. I decided on Griglaita di Legumi Misti con Crostini £6.95 (Grilled seasonal vegetables crostini) The selection of char grilled vegetables were perfectly cooked to al dente perfection and presented by a loving hand, The virgin Olive oil soaked toast was crisp and homemade.
My female companion decided to for a starter, but couldn’t resist helping herself to my Asparagus. For her main course, Filetto di Merluzzo con Lenticchie £14.50 (Cod fillets with Lentils and parsley sauce) The cod was pan fried and crispy on the top with succulent tender cod which was white and totally fresh and lots of it, it came with brown lentils which matched perfectly with the homemade parsley sauce, while on the waiters recommendation I went with Linguine al Pesto Genvosese con Fagiolini Verdi £9.00 (Linguine with homemade fresh pesto and French beans) The first thing I noticed was the portion, Mama Mia! The next thing was the steam rising off this perfectly presented football of spaghetti; I set to the task of devouring this like an athlete in training, The pasta was al dente to perfection and the homemade pesto was simply sublime, and by far the best plate of pasta I had this year. There is so much choice on the menu from Carre di Coniglio a Modo Nostro (Roast saddle of rabbit with braised cabbage and Port jus) and Conchiglie con Capesante, Zucchini e Zafferano (Conquils with scallops and courgettes served with saffron sauce), somehow we managed to leave room for dessert, we quickly polished off Vanilla Panna Cotta with mixed berry coulis which was pretty as a picture, the panna cotta was light with overwhelming vanilla flavours.
Ristorante Biagio is most definitely a cut above other Italian restaurants in the West End, competitors would be wise to take note of how easily it ticks all the boxs. So kick those taste buds into shape and let Biagios do the rest.
With your HumanHi select card a very special surprise awaits you.. So don't miss out.!!!!
Open 365 days per year
Average meal including wine per head: £30.00
12am -11.30pm Monday to Sunday
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus / GreenPark