VILLA BIANCA

'And we call it Bella Notte'

Summer Lovin' Had Me A Blast

I Met A Boy Crazy For Me

I Met A Girl Cute As Can Be

We Made Out Till Ten O'Clock

She Was Good....You Know What I Mean

Tell Me More, Tell Me More, 
How Much Dough Did He Spend ?

#22  Two little Ducks

Ciao Bella

If you and your beau should ever fancy recreating the intimate al fresco scene from Lady and the Tramp (Bella Notte) with-the-best-spaghetti-in-town, there are few destinations in London to match 'Villa Bianca' on a clear warm spring night. Nestled in leafy Hampstead on a quiet cobble stone alley, the traditional maitre d' welcomes you in with the traditional ambient Roman smile, donning his crisp white two button Corleone jacket. Those who have dined at 'Diana' in Bologna will know the idea....

In a blink of an eye your table is effortlessly covered in tasty bits and bobs with VB's courtesy amuse-bouche. A cerebral sense of cluttered contentment washes over, with live music playing indoors aiding the sense of an old timers twinkling romance.

Long fingered grissini sticks, marinated olives tucked into pastry puffs and freshly baked focaccia bread with sicilian olive oil, are prominent heavyweights featuring in the relaxed chit chat and gratuitous grazing thing. From the comfort of prize ringside al fresco seats, we ordered 'Antipasti', the house speciality  of tempura battered fresh squid, accompanied by the chef's tartar sauce. 

Navigating around the temptations of a 'Primi Piatti' (to avoid rolling one another home), we headed straight to the 'Secondi Piatti', sharing the delicious home made Tagliatelle with wild Porcini Mushrooms and cream and the Grilled Sardines with garlic, rosemary, olive oil and lemon. When ingredients are as fresh and simply garnished as this, there is nothing better to tickle your taste-buds.

Unbeknown to the blogger we were hobnobbing with the stars and entertained by a vocal running commentary from our neighbouring table, featuring an elderly Warren Mitchell aka Alf Garnett, directing his chauffeur driven car up the alley from 60 paces.  Who said the PC brigade have taken over ?

Villa Bianca