obika
'Staff were the perfect combination of polite and probing'

Obikà, South Kensington

Open Mon–Sat midday–11pm, Sun midday–10pm

Nestled along a street that hosts fashion royalty such as Margiela, Obikà could easily label itself as couture cuisine. Mozzarella and other Italian ingredients are given the modern touch, with an emphasis on food being social and experimental.

The décor has a laid-back air of sophistication to it, oozing effortless cool with a bookshelf wall of wine that makes you feel like you’ve copy-and-pasted a VIP penthouse to somewhere more homely. Feeling welcomed at once, we started the evening at the beautifully lit bar with a glass of pinot grigio. A sleek tapas plate then flirted its way to us as we waited to be seated, with cheeses that either wonderfully crumbled to the touch or melted in the mouth like magic, alongside courgette companions that had been transformed into something sweet and surreal. What looked like a fish tank was in fact a Jacuzzi of mozzarella balls, with chefs using the bar as their aesthetically entrancing aquarium of food to fuel the appetite on entrance.

I’m the erratic and indecisive eater – one who ‘ums and ahs’ at options on either end of the menu spectrum, convinced that I’m destined to play it safe or else end up taking the gamble on a taste that doesn’t end up tickling my fancy. So it was the perfect feasting formula to have a sharing platter that made friends with all social groups of the menu. With smoked and creamy cheeses joining delicately spiced parma hams, this sociable starter for two involved fiery pesto and tangy courgette dips that get you pulling ‘out of this world’ faces. All the unconventional vogue expressions are perfectly worth it though, for this pick’n’mix playful approach to Italian cuisine.

The staff were the perfect combination of polite and probing; settling me into the Italian spirit, encouraging us to try food that was a foreign language. I’ve often been two-dimensional when it comes to pizza, so it was an enlightening experience to be recommended a pizza with an authentic difference. The pepperoni impression came in the form of a paste on a rustic base, making the thought of adding seasoning an act of treason.

My sweet tooth defied a contently full stomach by enjoying a nutty ricotta cream that had a punch of orange peel to it, followed by tiramisu that was so light it tasted unreal.

For an evening that exudes penthouse qualities with a homely infusion, Obikà is the refreshing restaurant experience that will have you hooked.

Obikà, 96 Draycott Avenue, London, SW3; www.obika.co.uk; 020 7581 5208

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