Sunday roasts? Don’t rate them. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but the thought of a huge plate piled high with meat and veg does not appeal to me in the slightest. Call me a traitor to the British, but I’d take a regular meal over pub grub any day. So when Sette touched down in Knightsbridge, bringing slinky interiors and an Italian-style Sunday lunch to the table, this was definitely one that I could fathom.
Nestled within the super exclusive Bulgari hotel (we’re talking £1000+ for a room here), Sette is one of the more luxurious recent restaurant openings. Judging from Insta, it seemed like the ultimate date spot, so naturally, I took the boyfriend along for the 4-course ride. Arriving with stomachs rumbling, we were greeted by a large room touting high ceilings, beige tones and modern lighting. Very NYC.
Interiors designed by Thomas Juul-Hanson give way to high ceilings, upscale decor and one epic wine room.
Split into 4 parts, the Sunday Lunch Prix Fixe menu gives you the opportunity to taste your way through antipasti, paste, secondi and dolci; all at the massively reduced price of £30 per person. Before we’d even ordered, a trio of bread arrived with oil, whipped butter and aubergine sauce for dipping. Served fresh out of the oven, each piece was a hit. Special shoutout to the moreish number laced with salami and cheese swirls.
Easing in with a drink that wouldn’t aggravate my lingering hangover, I started with the Spritz Tropicale (£13). An exotic take on the summertime sip, this bright-hued concoction blended Aperol with Cedrata Tassoni, mango and prosecco. My dinner date opted for the more herbal Bicicletta (£14). A balanced mix of raspberry-infused Campari, Amer Picon, cherry bitters and white wine, this was a mature companion to my basic bitch spritz.
Say hello to Bicicletta; the bittersweet aperitif.
Helmed by the same group that brought Scarpetta to New York, Sette is a little slice of Italy right here in London. Even our charming waiter, Filippo, doubled up as sommelier and Italian translator all in one. Buonissimo. Starting off on a real high, creamy polenta (usually £10) was a mind-blowing dish stirred in with truffle mushrooms; the kinda flavours to elicit groans from around the table. Sashimi-style salmon (usually £10) followed, before a sweet short rib and bone marrow agnolotti (usually £18) and seafood scialatelli (usually £24) packed with prawns, squid and mussels were practically inhaled.
Only halfway through the menu, I was mentally preparing myself for secondi. Sirloin steak (usually £30) was served as a thick slab; perfectly pink and melt-in-the-mouth, while seabass (usually £21) appeared with sweet and sour tomato pureé and courgette. Both perfectly nice, but not living up to the gorgeous polenta that was lingering in our minds.
The truffle mushroom polenta that will literally change your life.
As for dessert, we assumed the espresso budino (usually £10) would be a failsafe. But dense layers of salted caramel, chocolate biscotti, hazelnut gelato were a little heavy after 3 rounds of food. It was the unlikely dulce cheesecake (usually £10) joined by apricot compote, apricot sorbet, pistachio and meringue that really got us; tasting just as heavenly as it looked. Finished off with a couple of cocktails – the vanilla-infused Palermo Old Fashioned (£14) for me and a Negroni Mediterraneo (£13) for him (think Bombay Sapphire, Cocchi, watermelon-infused Campari and basil) – this has got to be one of my favourite meals the year so far.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Not only is Sette giving you the chance to dine in one of London’s most exclusive settings, but it’s giving you the chance to do it at only £30 a head. With a wealth of mouth-watering dishes and the type of quality cocktails that you'd find in a world-class bar, this is a no-brainer. Whether you're planning a sexy date night or fancy a little treat-yo-self feasting, make sure you put Sette on the list... because it's definitely on mine for a return.
The Sunday Lunch Prix Fixe menu runs from 12pm – 9pm and costs £30 per person for 4 courses. You'll find Sette at 4 Knightsbridge Green, London SW1X 7QA.
