Bottarga
Greek restaurant · Chelsea ·
Aegean-inspired dishes with standout lamb belly and cheesecake
Aegean-inspired dishes with standout lamb belly and cheesecake
"Bottarga is what we imagine Nina to grow into after a sabbatical in Greece and a whirlwind romance with feta. It’s a little more refined—smaller, darker, more romantic—but still cool in an effortless, chic way. Lunches here are breezy and should be had on the gorgeousChelseaterrace, but dinner is when Bottarga really shines. The lighting relies mostly on a single candle on each table, the room has a nice buzzy hum, and the creamy orzo is the kind of thing we want to eat just before sleeping. Yes, some dishes flop (the tapioca bites need a rethink), but the hits—yellowtail, crispy lamb belly, and that chocolate burnt cheesecake—more than make up for it." - Rianne Shlebak
"Bottarga’s small, dark dining room is so sexy and fun it almost begs you to bring a date. The sounds of tables gasping at the crispy lamb belly and spoons clashing over a block of feta rises above the low, upbeat music, and makes for a buzzy hum at this Greek spot in Chelsea. The low corner seating or holiday-feeling heated terrace is our preferred spot. For a same-week booking, call and ask for a table at the bar or the outside terrace. FYI, the terrace is covered, heated, and actually quite charming. Also, be open to a Monday dinner." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
"Halal status: Everything except the steak Greek older sibling to Nina, Bottarga is a moody Chelsea restaurant that requires dedication to get into. But it’s absolutely worth it, because the mostly halal menu includes things like lamb belly that should be studied for its crisp-factor, tender, chunky lamb chops, and a chocolate burnt cheesecake that is one of the best desserts in London. If you can’t get a table inside, know that the terrace is heated, covered, and very charming. For a same-week booking, call and ask for a table at the bar or the outside terrace. FYI, the terrace is covered, heated, and actually quite charming. Also, be open to a Monday dinner." - rianne shlebak
"Bottarga is effortless, it’s chic, it’s cool, and some of the Greek dishes (cc: the lamb belly) need to be studied for their crisp factor. Order correctly (tzatziki, lamb belly, chocolate burnt cheesecake) and you’ll be pleased. The energy is sexy and fun, with the room full of dates and loud inner-circle catch-ups. If you’re after a last-minute dinner, it’s much easier to get a seat at the bar, where you can watch chefs in the busy open kitchen. For a same-week booking, call and ask for a table at the bar or the outside terrace. FYI, the terrace is covered, heated, and actually quite charming. Also, be open to a Monday dinner." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"Bottarga in Chelsea has got whatever ‘it’ is. It’s effortless, it’s chic, it’s cool, and the lamb belly needs to be studied for its crisp-factor. The energy in this small, dark space is sexy and fun, so bring a date or your loud inner circle. Just know that the formula to a perfect night here is this: raw yellowtail or whole grilled sea bass, refreshing cucumber dip, and the low corner seating or heated terrace. For a same-week booking, call and ask for a table at the bar or the outside terrace. FYI, the terrace is covered, heated, and actually quite charming. Also, be open to a Monday dinner." - sinead cranna, jake missing, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley