There's nowhere I'd rather be than in a dreamy Italian restaurant, sipping wine and sampling a menu of Mediterranean delights, so it's no surprise that Chucs Restaurant in London called to me. Though they've got venues in Kensington, Chelsea and Belgravia too, I was most drawn to their original Mayfair location - an intimate, eight-table space that's been around since 2014. 

Heading there on a rainy Monday evening, we expected the place to be fairly empty, but we were quickly proven wrong. Even their outdoor terrace tables were full, despite the weather, so it's clear that this small neighbourhood restaurant is a real favourite among locals and tourists alike.

If there's one thing the Chucs Mayfair reviews agree on, it's the cosy setting.

As you might expect, the Dover Street location comes with an air of sophistication that matches the elegant houses and blacked-out cars we could see from our seat by the window. But that doesn't mean the waiters are any less friendly, happy to help with our every request and attentively topping up our drinks throughout the night. We were given a cosy leather booth in the corner, facing the wooden wall that was lined with black and white photos - which combined with the high ceilings and ornate chandeliers gave a traditional Italian vibe to the setting.

We began the evening with a carafe of Cotes De Provence rosé (£25), recommended to us by our waiter. This was a perfect balance between sweet and dry, with a crisp, fruity taste to it. This was paired with the beginnings of the enormous feast to come: a bread basket (£5.50) that comprised of spongy focaccia sprinkled with rosemary, crusty brown sourdough, breadsticks and a crispy flatbread that had the texture of poppadoms with a more traditional bread flavour. This was of course drizzled in copious amounts of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Dishes drizzled in pesto? The Chucs London restaurant menu knows all about that.

Shortly after this we were presented with our starters, which were as aesthetically pleasing as they were delicious. Luckily, they had my favourite starter of all time: burrata (£14.50) on a bed of tomatoes, swimming in an enticing combination of pesto and olive oil. I eagerly split the cheese open to reveal a creamy inside that perfectly complemented the juicy, bright red tomatoes - which tasted like the kind you'd find in Italy or Spain. My dinner date went for the pea soup (£10.50) instead, topped with a zig zag of creme fraiche and sprinkled with basil. This vibrant green dish was equally tasty, with a fresh flavour and earthy undertones.

We both continued on a vegetable-heavy theme for our main courses, though they had a number of tempting pizzas, burgers and meat dishes too. I chose a spaghetti arrabbiata (£19.50), as often the simple options are the best - and this was certainly the case on the Chucs Mayfair menu. The rich, spicy tomato sauce was exactly what I was looking for, and there was absolutely loads of pasta. My partner decided on the melanzane alla parmigiana (£16.50) - a generous portion of baked aubergine topped with stringy mozzarella and shavings of parmesan, with crispy edges and a soft, gooey centre.

Get your fix of authentic pasta plates here.

We finished up with two classic European desserts: crème brûlée (£7) and chocolate gelato (£5). The former was a thick, creamy vanilla custard topped with a flaky layer of caramelised sugar, an ideal sweet treat to end our meal on. The ice cream was just as mouthwatering, with a rich, cocoa taste and a smooth consistency.

The DesignMyNight Digest

This elegant, cosy venue is the epitome of sophisticated Mayfair dining, creating the feel of a neighbourhood restaurant while still keeping it classy. Clearly very popular among locals, the Chucs menu certainly did not disappoint, and the friendly staff were always on hand to help with recommendations. I would return for the burrata alone, and if you're looking for an intimate Italian spot with top-notch food, you can't go wrong here.

If our Chucs Mayfair review has left you wanting more, then sign up to our weekly newsletter to keep up with all the latest.