Tarantella

Tarantella brings a lively Italian rhythm to Chiswick, celebrating the kind of cooking that leans on great ingredients, deft technique and the pleasures of the table. Its name suggests movement, and the menu follows suit, dancing from the coast to the countryside with confident, unshowy flair.

Seafood takes a graceful bow to start: polpo e scarola pairs grilled octopus with endive and the crunch of toasted garlic bread, while sauté di cozze e vongole lets mussels and clams mingle with garlic, chilli and cherry tomatoes in a white wine broth worth chasing to the last drop. From there, pasta arrives with classic poise: carbonara on tonnarelli with guanciale, egg yolk and pecorino, and tonnarelli al nero di seppia twirled through mixed seafood and garlic.

Heartier plates keep the tempo steady. Guancia di manzo brasata folds slow-cooked ox cheek into a red wine sauce over silken potato purée, and lamb ribs meet salsa verde and sautéed chicory for a bright, herb-lifted finish. Pizza and pinsa broaden the canvas, from a pitch-perfect margherita to stracciatella, Parma ham and figs, plus the likes of parma e burrata or a fiery calabrese.

For those seeking honest flavours and Italian verve, Tarantella sets the scene. Book a table, bring your appetite, and let the evening spin to a delicious tune.