A real slice of Italy in Knightsbridge

You'll find ‘Zia Teresa' (‘Aunt Teresa') on a little side-street beside Harrods. By Shelley Marsden - 26/11/09

This place is a welcome treat: a real, authentic Italian restaurant in a city which boasts a myriad of restaurants which call themselves Italian and serve food which is nothing of the sort.

The welcoming, effervescent owner Stefano Fraquelli of Metropolitan Restaurants is a wonderful host, clearly proud to be carrying on the tradition begun by his late father, and he shows us to our seats in the cosy, wood-panelled interior.

The restaurant is celebrating its Golden Anniversary, and to mark 50 successful years, customers visiting the restaurant between November 2009 and 2010 are offered a complimentary glass of sparkling Franciacorta wine and, for a limited period, a special 3 course Golden Anniversary Menu for only £15.00.

Zia Teresa won The Independent's "Best Neighbourhood Restaurant" award in 2005 for "serving hit-the-spot, reliable Italian food" and, having tested it out, I agree with them wholeheartedly.

My boyfriend and I share two delicious and plentiful antipasti (starters) from a varied selection, with parma ham sliced there and then, lmelt-in-the-mouth mozzarella and superbly fresh grilled vegetables, and we plump for a full-bodied Merlot to wash it down with; delicious.

The home-made fettuccine with tartufo (truffle) and porcini are delicious; often the taste of truffle can be overwhelming, but here the balance is just right. They remind my Roman boyfriend of the fettuccine his nonna (granmy) makes which, believe me, is one serious compliment! The fillet steak, which was requested ‘rare’ and which for once actually came ‘rare’, was soft and full of flavour.

Generous portions have left us with little room for desserts, but we are duly tempted by our waiter (who assures us they are all home-made and extremely tasty)! We opt for cheese-cake –the most common dessert in the world, but rendered unique in the hands of the chef, and the tiramusu (a gigantic portion of) which is exactly how you would find in Italy – rather than a sickly sweet mush, you can really taste the biscuit and the coffee flavour throughout.

This place has everything going for it; lovely staff, fresh, simple and authentic Italian cuisine at reasonable prices in a welcoming, unpretentious setting in the chic heart of London. After a spot of full-on Christmas shopping, treat your parents/friends/other half to an evening in this rustic little haven. They will thank you for it…