Italian-inspired pasta bar and restaurant Morso started out life as a pop up, but proved so popular that it has now graduated to a restaurant proper. Featuring a minimalist dining room boasting white walls, a dining counter and a handful of sit-down tables, Morso is a popular neighbourhood restaurant in St John's Wood, serving up a choice of seasonal, homemade small plates and fresh pasta dishes, plus a drinks list of alluring grappa-based cocktails and classic Negronis.
The fresh handmade pasta is the star of the à la carte, but before you get to that, you can tuck into a range of small bites split between meat, veg and fish. Kick-start your meal with the likes of British beef carpaccio or tomato and mozzarella arancini. If you are feeling fishy you might fancy crispy calamari with Cantabrian chilli and lemon mayo, while vegetarian diners can opt for homemade ricotta with ciabatta bread or grilled baby gem with lemon mustard dressing.
From the handful of fresh pasta dishes, you will find classic Italian fare such as truffle and ricotta ravioli or bucatini cacio e pepe. There is also spaghetti al Pomodoro topped off with Parmigiano Reggiano shavings, or a classic prawn linguine with chilli and bisque butter sauce. Desserts are just as classically Italian as the rest of the menu, with sweet-toothed options including a deconstructed lemon tart with mascarpone cream, and a potted tiramisu finished off with a sprinkling of chocolate crumbs.
Meanwhile, the drinks menu stays faithful to regional Italian wines, offering a good selection by the glass as well as some special bottles from the restaurant's private cellar. Morso also offers a good selection of grappa, and even a grappa flight where you can try four different styles alongside pecorino and chestnut honey.