Rosmarino is a charming, intimate Italian restaurant in the heart of Tooting, situated just a few minutes walk from Tooting Bec tube station. Whether you live locally, across South London or beyond, it's easy to get to, and surrounded by other bars, restaurants and pubs, in this lively, up-and-coming area. Now, while there may be many Italian eateries in London, Rosmarino boasts something special - it's authentic. No, really - it is.
The restaurant is owned by couple, Daria and Giovanni, born in Civitavecchia, a seaside town on the south coast to the north of Rome, and Florence, respectively. Individually they each have years of experience in hospitality, first at home in Italy, and in London, and embarked on this project together to bring the flavours of their hometowns to life. As you would guess with Italian cuisine, making the freshest pasta and sourdough pizza in-house and from scratch is a must for the team here, as well as only working with the best suppliers to bring their customers the freshest ingredients. Throughout the menu, you'll experience techniques passed down through generations, as well as some more modern twists. And, considering Giovanni is a qualified sommelier, it's a no-brainer that the wine list is full of expertly-picked Italian bottles, chosen to perfectly complement the food. Speaking of which, the menu follows a traditional Italian format, beginning with small bites of stuzzichini, such as Italian cured meats, artisanal bread, and a Tuscan favourite: fried dough balls, sprinkled with salt, served with cured ham and Stracchino cheese.
You can also enjoy some antipasti to share with the table, like Apulian creamy burrata served on beetroot purée, toasted pistachios, pomegranate and balsamic caviar, which sounds delicious. For mains, there's a mix of pastas to choose from including Conference Pear risotto served with gorgonzola, toasted walnuts and licorice powder, as well as pizzas such as the Sweet Belly, with crispy pork belly, caramelised red onions, Gorgonzola cheese and Fior di latte.