Bottarga

Pachamama Group has pulled off a clever switcheroo by turning Chicama into Bottarga. The latter is very on trend - in place of Chicama’s Peruvian cooking, Bottarga serves up accessible, modern Greek food. There’s a slick industrial chic to the dining room, softened by flickering candles on the tables and a thrumming open kitchen. Tribal house thumps overhead, and combined with the well-heeled Chelsea clientele it gives us real club VIP vibes. Whatever the equation, it’s working - Bottarga is absolutely packed and buzzing on a Wednesday night (and you’re looking at a good month wait to get a booking).

The menu is loaded with full-throttle crowd pleasers that explain why Bottarga has been such a social media sensation. Bread and dips are having a bit of a 2024 moment along with the resurgence of Greek cooking in London, and Bottarga kicks you off with excellent pitta breads straight from the grill, and a series of dips, including a gorgeous, smokey baba ganoush, and a spicy feta and red pepper dip that is tasty, though perhaps a tad salty.

Dishes here are certainly dialled up in terms of flavour. Sometimes they tip over the edge - some crispy saganaki tapioca bites, for example, are too sweet with thyme honey - but when Bottarga gets it right, the results are brilliant. Raw fish plates are where the restaurant shines, displaying the balance we craved in earlier dishes. Slices of bluefin tuna are smartly paired with silky lemon emulsion and roasted red pepper, a superb combo of simple ingredients. The Greek salad is superb, as is a tray of roasted lamb belly which glistens with fat underneath a crisp crust.

A special mention to one of the hit desserts of the year - Bottarga’s chocolate burnt cheesecake, which staff liberally pour salted caramel chocolate sauce over. It’s so maximalist it almost feels like a practical joke (as if you still had room for a giant slab of cheesecake after eating your weight in pitta bread). It’s damn good though, and you can easily share one slice between two. In general, Bottarga delivers on the food front, but it’s the restaurant’s kinetic energy that makes it special - the buzz of an excited crowd, and the constant movement, of pouring sauces, swiping breads through dips, clinking glasses and breaking blocks of feta. If you're planning on going, now is the time to visit. 

Bottarga, nestled on the iconic King’s Road in Chelsea, London, captures the essence of Greek cuisine with a contemporary twist. This stylish restaurant, inspired by walks around the sun-soaked Aegean, offers a menu brimming with fresh, vibrant flavours that celebrate the spirit of shared dining, a cornerstone of the Greek approach to food and family.

The meal begins with an array of enticing spreads served alongside freshly baked breads. From the smoky aubergine topped with crispy onions to the creamy tarama adorned with trout roe, these starters are perfect for awakening the palate. Other highlights include the zesty tzatziki with dill oil and the spicy feta spread accompanied by red pepper chimichurri.

For those craving something more substantial, the mezze selection dazzles with options like saganaki tapioca bites drizzled with thyme honey, crispy calamari paired with chilli jam mayo, and courgette tempura served with a rich black garlic aioli. Salads offer refreshing counterpoints, featuring classics such as Greek salad with barrel-aged feta and a bold Caesar infused with anchovy and Arseniko cheese.

Seafood shines on the menu, with standout dishes including whole grilled sea bass finished with amarillo butter, prawns laced with chilli oil and citrus zest, and bottarga orzo infused with XO oil. Carnivores are equally catered to with options like Greek-spiced lamb belly, lemon chicken enhanced with thyme emulsion, and a succulent dry-aged rib eye on the bone.

To accompany the mains, Bottarga serves exquisite sides, such as charred broccoli with lemon oil, truffle-kissed artichokes with xinotiri, and confit ratte potatoes in burnt butter with garlic aioli.

Concluding with indulgent desserts, Bottarga delivers a complete dining experience that is both authentically Greek and distinctively refined. Perfect for leisurely meals, it is a must-visit for anyone seeking bold flavours in the heart of London.