There has been something of a recent Renaissance for Venetian cuisine in London, with Soho’s much hyped Polpo and its new sibling Polpetto offering tapas-sized portions of popular dishes. However if you’re looking for something altogether more substantial, 2 Veneti is the place to head.
Already well established in the top rank of what can be a highly competitive field, the cuisine at the restaurant belies the somewhat neutral decor. A range of succulent antipasti might include decadently creamy mozzarella or cucumber and crab salad, and the lamb ravioli should not be missed as a pasta course. There’s an excellent variety of both fish and meat for the secondi or main, with particular highlights including tender calves’ liver and fresh, vibrant sea bass – a particular house specialty, we are proudly informed.
As you might expect, the restaurant offers a great range of Venetian wines by both the glass and bottle, and a rich and full-bodied Chianti was the highlight of what we tried. A decadent glass of dessert wine to accompany moreish puddings such as chocolate salami is the perfect end to a lovely meal, and one that represents outrageously good value at £35 for 4 delicious courses.
One of the things that makes visiting 2 Veneti such a pleasure is the attention paid to all the little touches that normally get neglected in restaurants. The service, from natives of the Veneto region, finds just the right balance between friendly and familiar. The basket of Italian bread, an obligatory and often unnecessary addition to a meal, is here a genuine pleasure due to the impeccable quality of the focaccia; practically a meal in itself. And, if you’ve still got capacity at the end of the meal, a glass of the excellent Venetian grappa will round off a splendid evening more than pleasantly.
2 Veneti
10 Wigmore Street
London
W1U 2RD
Telephone: +44 (0)207 637 0789
Opening Times:
Lunch (Mon to Fri): 12.00 to 15.00
Dinner (Mon to Fri): 18.00 to 22.30 (Saturday ) lunch closed /Dinner 18:00 to 23:00
Closed Sundays
