Bocca di Lupo: regional italian cuisine tapas style in the heart of Soho

Dinner at Bocca Di Lupo (12 Archer Street) did not disappoint tonight. In fact, it exceeds the rave reviews and high expectations I have received from friends who have been to the Soho establishment. I called ahead of time but the tables were fully booked tonight. Since we were able to arrive early (6.30pm), i did some hard nose negotiations to secure 3 seats at the counter by the chef's "pass".

The restaurant presents the highlights of italian regional cuisine (umbria, tuscany, sicily). We ordered about 3 starters, 1 side dish and 4 mains to share, all of them small plates.

The starters were pan fried fresh porchini on toasted bread with lardo, fristo misto (i.e. seafood fried in a light tempura-like batter) and deep fried buffalo mozzarella balls. The mains were zucchini flowers and prawn risotto, lobster and mussels spagettini with pork and foie gras sausages, pan-fried crispy plaice with a gremolata, and some deep fried artichokes (roma style) on the side. Other than a bit too much salt on a few items, every dish was excellently prepared and tasty. It cost a bit more than Barrafina (about 105 quid for 3 people as compared to 80 quid for 3 people on Saturday night) although the latter is a bar with food (probably the best one in London!), rather than a restaurant.

I saw a bunch of dishes that I didn't try - such as roast suckling pig, beef with balsamic glaze (see photo), parma ham with cheese and what looks like fresh green peas, the crunchy looking salad with pomegranates, etc. The menu changes quite frequently which is always a good sign - the menu on their website is a sample only!

As they say in singapore, this restaurant is "Die Die Must Try"!!! You can see from my face and those of my sister and friend (raymond) we were very satisfied indeed. Salut!