Part of the luxury Middle Eight hotel in Covent Garden, Sycamore Vino Cucina Restaurant & Bar is an all-day restaurant which champions the cuisine of Italy. The kitchen is headed up by executive chef Gary Lee, previously at The Ivy, who's sharing menu features a vast array of Italian staples, ranging from small plates and cicchetti to handmade pizzas, pit-grilled meats and hand-rolled pastas. The menu kicks off at breakfast time, where healthy dishes are the order of the day.
Inside, the expansive dining room is colourful and beachy, showing off a mixture of coastal blue and mustard yellow tones, plus a partially open kitchen behind marble splashed counters and columns wrapped in gleaming blue tiles.
Start the day off on the right foot with one of the house smoothies or fresh fruit juices, before tucking into granola with berries, a chia seed pot or smashed avocado on sourdough toast. There is also a vegan version of a full English, while those who are in the mood to indulge can instead order a breakfast pizza topped with eggs, spinach, creme fraiche and pancetta.
The lunch and dinner menus are more expansive, with a range of Mediterranean dishes spread across an a la carte, which is split up into antipasti, primi, secondi and dolce. Starting snacks including burrata or salmon crudo with Amalfi lemon, caper and rocket, and there are fresh pasta dishes such as pumpkin tortelloni with ricotta and amaretti sage butter, or pappardelle with wild mushroom sauce.
Main courses to choose from include pit roasted black bream fillet, fried chicken focaccia burger and Himalayan salt aged ribeye steak, with a selection of sides to perfectly complement your meal. End your feast on a sweet note with your pick of desserts, from the signature Sycamore tiramisu to Piedmont chocolate praline slice or black forest cherry.