Nestled next to Harrods, San Carlo Knightsbridge serves up indulgent Italian sharing plates in a jazzy setting that perfectly blends chic with comfort.
"When it was named Cicchetti, this Italian restaurant by the San Carlo group was somewhere we’d send anyone without hesitation. But since then, the Knightsbridge spot has had a change of name and a change of heart. Small sharing plates are now big. Which would be a positive if things like the gnocchi sorrentina, that was once excellent, is now bland, and other pasta dishes taste like they’ve been attacked by a tsunami of salt on their way to the table. The pizzas have also gone downhill, although they’re pleasant enough. The room is the only similarity that remains from its old life as Cicchetti. The dining room has a fancy yacht crossed with a classic New York brasserie energy—all shiny deep brown wood and huge avant-garde art pieces. So if you need a decent pizza in a pretty room in the area, San Carlo can help. But if you’re hoping for a good bowl of pasta, look elsewhere. Food Rundown photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Mozzarella In Carrozza Fried mozzarella sounds like a foolproof dish. The cheese pull of all cheese pulls, right? Wrong. The thick discs of mozzarella are coated in sad pale breadcrumbs, and the cheese inside is cold. No cheese pull, no warmth, just a lump of cold cheese in a basil and tomato sauce that makes for a soggy starter. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Tagliatelle Porcini A creamy mushroom pasta which starts off well, but the more bites you take, the more your tongue recoils from the sheer amount of salt. Margherita This is definitely not the best pizza in London, in fact it’s not even close. But it is one of the safest and best things here, so order it. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Mafaldine Con Ragú Di Manzo If you like to cook bolognese at home, you should go ahead and do that. It will probably taste better than this slow-cooked beef ragu that’s pretty forgettable." - Rianne Shlebak
"Cicchetti Knightsbridge is part of the San Carlo restaurant group—a chain of Italian restaurants with locations all over London and the UK—but don’t let that put you off. Because this Knightsbridge spot is a dream group dinner location. The dining room looks like a fancy yacht crossed with a classic New York brasserie, all shiny deep brown wood and huge avant-garde art pieces. And the food, from daydream-worthy truffle and pecorino ravioli to the melanzane parmigiana, is straight-up tasty." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"Halal status: Chicken, beef, and veal There are several reasons to get excited about Cicchetti, an Italian spot located directly by Harrods. From the jazzy dining room that makes you feel like you’ve escaped Brompton Road and landed in Venice, to the daydream-worthy truffle and pecorino ravioli, it’s more than worth your time. And the fact that most of the meat is halal means you can get plenty of sharing plates and try a bit of everything." - rianne shlebak
"Owned by the San Carlo restaurant group and located directly by Harrods, Cicchetti has several things to get excited about. From the jazzy dining room that makes you feel like you’ve somehow landed in Venice, to the daydream-worthy truffle and pecorino ravioli, it’s more than worth your time. The gorgonzola gnocchi, which arrives in a baked parmesan basket, is creamy and a real winner. As is the lasagne al forno—a slow-cooked beef ragu with layers of rich tomato sauce and pasta." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"Maximum Capacity: 18 Minimum spend: £100 per person Cicchetti is home to a private dining room with a table that is so spectacularly long that it has “plonk your annoying brother-in-law down the end” written all over it. In case the hint hint, nudge nudge location next to Harrods doesn’t give it away, this is an Italian restaurant with a rich plush look and even richer gorgonzola gnocchi. Did we mention the chandeliers? It’s private dining in Knightsbridge baby, of course there are chandeliers. " - heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna
