You will have seen Amalfi Coast-inspired Circolo Popolare popping up on all your social feeds, thanks to reels or carousels showing off the Instagrammable interiors, Italian fare and cocktails served in quirky cups with colourful faces on. From the cascading ceiling flowers to its white-washed stone look and hoards of spirits lining bookcases, this one's quite the looker. But, seeing as that's a given from Big Mamma's TikTok-ready restaurants, I popped over on August bank holiday to find out if the food also lived up to my very high expectations.
There's an extensive menu to choose from here, once you can tear your eyes away from the interiors.
Diving into this gorgeous space as the doors were thrown open at midday, we were able to get a few snaps in before the droves of other diners descended - something well worth thinking about when booking Circolo Popolare. Shortly, I was sipping through a perfectly balanced Empire State sour (£10), which was whipped up from Wild Turkey bourbon, Amero Averna, rosemary syrup and Cannonau wine foam. After not knowing whether to gawk at our surroundings, catch-up, or make our way through the huge menu, a three (but almost four) course feast fit for carb-loving ladies was eventually chosen.
An array of starters were quickly brought to the table: Isola Della burrata (£13), Get Fritti With It (£8), Circolo's Love Mussel (£9) and a naughty garlic bread (£4.50). From the perfectly crisp batter on the courgette and tropea onion fritters to the bouncy, delicate cheese ball with tomato gazpacho and crunchy croutons, textures across these dishes were divine. Better yet, our garlicky pizza bread was ideal for dunking, while the combo of rich seafood, tomato and oregano in a crusty bread bowl really hit the spot. As mains, we went for the sizeable sharing plate of saltimbocca alla Romana (£16 per person), where prosciutto, melted mozzarella and crispy sage-stuffed English rose veal was served alongside a rich Marsala gravy. This was tender and comforting, rounding off the savoury portion of our meal with something a little more hearty.
From towering, fluffy egg whites to refreshing antipasti, Circolo Popolare has all the crowd-pleasers.
Now, we couldn't leave without trying the restaurant's version of a classic tiramisu (£7) and The Incomparable Lemon Pie (£7.50). Tucking into the latter, I was admiring the mouth-watering tangy flavour and huge wedge of pillowy meringue, although the size definitely defeated me. The former was just as impressive - not too sweet, not overpoweringly bitter and delightfully creamy.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Circolo Popolare proves that the most stylish restaurants can also deliver on substance, fronting reasonably priced Italian food with great flavours and a variety of textures. From fresh starters made for summer to warming plates of succulent meat, there's plenty to munch alongside the pizza or pasta offering. Plus, your 'Gram feed will thank you.
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💰 The damage: £95.50 between two, plus service charge. 📍 The location: 40-41 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HX. 👌 Perfect for: Romantic dates, bustling dinners with mates and everything in-between. ⭐ Need to know: You can close out the summer with alfresco dining on the terrace. |
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