L'ulivo is a small, independent group of authentic Italian restaurants in central London; the first of the group opened on the Strand over 15 years ago, and the second sits not far away from the original site, on Villiers Street by Leicester Square.
Here you’ll find a wonderful spot to host your next event, gathering or party. Inside, the restaurant has a rustic feel with exposed stone walls, an earthy colour palette and details like twisted rope pendant lighting, all of which comes together for a Mediterranean look.
The menu serves up traditional Italian cuisine, putting simplicity at the forefront of its ethos. With fresh ingredients delivered to the restaurant daily, the chefs create authentic dishes with produce that speaks for itself. We particularly like that if inspired, the chefs will sometimes take a walk to the local food market and hand pick ingredients themselves, to make something a little different for the specials board. It's this passion and freedom that L'ulivo attributes its long-standing success to.
As is custom for Italian dining, the menu spans many courses and encourages guests to try antipasti, salads, pastas and main courses. To start, perhaps order something for the table such as a mix of Italian salami, prosciutto, mortadella, grana padano cheese and olives served with home made bread, or deep fried squid coated in breadcrumbs.
If opting for a pasta course, you could go for one of the restaurant's signature recipes such as the rigatoni cooked with Italian sausages, roasted peppers and tomato sauce, or perhaps spaghetti with Mediterranean prawns, mussels and squid. There's plenty of meat and fish dishes, too, from grilled salmon steak with lemon, cherry tomatoes and fresh dill, to chicken breast in a creamy mushroom sauce. And, always ask your server to talk you through the wine list, with most bottles sourced from Italy.