UVA Cantina

Uva Cantina brings a quietly confident slice of Italy to Covent Garden, celebrating honest ingredients and time-honoured flavour.

Its menu leans into the pleasures of sharing and simplicity, where small plates usher in the meal with bright, saline notes and citrus-lifted oils, before giving way to slow-cooked comforts and market-fresh classics.

Nibbles set the tone: marinated Nocellara olives are bright with lemon and rosemary, while hummus with toasted sourdough is finished with lemon oil. Truffle nuts and halloumi with sun-dried tomatoes add savoury depth.

From there, the menu moves into comfort: slow-braised beef in red wine, classic lasagne ragù, and chicken paillard with rocket and tomatoes, alongside a rich aubergine parmigiana. Lighter notes come through in burrata with heritage tomatoes and basil oil, or fresh, clean salads like bresaola with rocket and parmigiano, and insalata tricolore with avocado and balsamic.

For those who prefer to graze, generous boards beckon: an Italian cheese selection that runs from parmigiano to gorgonzola, pecorino tartufo and caciocavallo, and Italian cured meats spanning parma ham, prosciutto vrudo, bresaola black angus, mortadella and salame il rustico, complete with thoughtful accompaniments.

Sociable, unhurried and built for conversation, Uva Cantina suits leisurely lunches and lingering evenings alike. Make a date, bring an appetite, and let the plates do the talking la dolce vita, by the forkful.