Rossella

Tucked away in the heart of Kentish Town, Rossella is the epitome of a family-run trattoria with its buzzing atmosphere, open kitchen and well-stocked deli-counter. Chef owner Luca Meola embraces his family history, which seeps through into every element of the restaurant.

Locals clearly know that Rossella is the place to be, with Friday night seeing every table filled several times over. With its family-photo-clad walls and shelves loaded with wines and oils from the family vineyard in Benevento, Rossella isn’t winning any prizes for cutting edge design, but it is homely, welcoming and utterly charming.

A Limoncello Spritz starts the evening with a bang, featuring homemade liqueur, of course. It’s incredibly refreshing, with a zippy lemon tartness that banishes the gloomy London weather outside.

The evening continues, and time seems to fly by in a whirlwind of classic Italian cooking. Rossella shows that sometimes the simplest things are the best things, whether it's the crisp crunch of garlic bread or the rich, basil-infused tomato sauce that smothers traditional Neapolitan meatballs. The bruschetta is a standout favourite - fresh tomatoey chunks have been doused in a sweet balsamic glaze that has us scraping the plate clean.

Freshly made tortelloni parcels are another undoubtable highlight. Springy fresh pasta is stuffed generously with crayfish and prawns and served in a pool of creamy lobster bisque. It looks simple enough, but executing a dish like this takes some skill.

We end our evening with tiramisu. Rossella throws some Tia Maria and amaretto into the mix, giving their dessert a powerful coffee punch that’s only enhanced by the addition of a shot of espresso. It’s perhaps a tad bitter for some, but a sweet scoop of vanilla gelato is on hand to nicely balance things out.

Nowadays, you can spend a pretty penny on a plate of pasta in London, but with reasonably priced and reliable dishes, Rossella gives them all a run for their money, and then some.

Rossella is a restaurant with a story, and a heartwarming one at that. Luca Meola, owner of Rossella is continuing his family’s love of food in this traditional Italian trattoria in the heart of Kentish Town. Here, he shares authentic cuisine and carefully selected ingredients in this authentic Italian dining experience. Luca first found his passion for cooking as a child when working under the tutelage of his father, Luigi. His family started the first Rossella in Benevento in 1960, before bringing this love of Italian cuisine to Ilford in 1978 when Luca’s father moved here and launched a new restaurant. Starting as a kitchen porter, Luca worked his way through to getting in on the action in the kitchen, learning the ins and outs of the business, before going it alone to open up his own space.

The restaurant is contemporary, light and filled with Italian deli products that you can buy during your visit, giving it an authentic flair. Beyond the packets of pasta and tomato sauce, you’ll see a wall of personal photos from Luca’s childhood, to remind guests that Rosella proudly remains a family run restaurant. On the menu, you'll find starters and small plates like fried pistachio and pancetta arancini, alongside cheesy aubergine parmigiana and garlic bread with indulgent extras like mozzarella, napoli sauce or caramelised onions.

Moving onto mains, we like the sound of sea bass fillet with baby prawns in garlic butter, or the Pollo Crema e Funghi which sees succulent chicken cooked in cream, mushroom and a white wine sauce. You can also expect an impressive selection of pizzas with a 'make your own' section, as well as fresh pastas like Tagliatelle alla Nonna with sautéed aubergine, courgettes and red onion in a classic Napoli sauce, topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella. Just ask the team about gluten-free and vegan options, they've gone through great efforts to find delicious alternatives that are just as enjoyable.

And, when you're not visiting Rossella yourself, you can order online for delivery - so remember that next time you're having a night in!