Artigiano

OK, to the last of my free PhD dinners (for now....). Quite apt this one, while I'm doing the rounds of Italian restaurants in London. Thanks to JMG for a great meal at Artigiano (12a Belsize Terrace, London, NW3 4AX), a charming Italian hidden away between Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage. Not the sort of place you'd find unless someone told you about it (or unless you read my highly informative and helpful blog, of course.....). Artigiano has a café attached to it. It was closed when we got there, but looks quite appealing. Inside the main restaurant, the décor is modern and understated, but despite its moderate size, actually feels quite spacious, as the front section opens entirely out onto the front terrace.

The menu includes a varied selection of starters, pasta, meat, fish and rice, and you'll definitely find at least a few things to appeal to your tastes; the friendly waiters will help you find them. As a guide, the courgette flowers (although I'm not sure why they don't call them zucchini flowers....) with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes, are excellent, as are the grilled scallops with pink grapefruit. The baked seabass with fennel sauce was quite an unusual dish, but a great combination. The special was grilled rib-eye, cooked to your taste and with your choice of sace (should you require one). As for dessert....... well, micuit au chocolat with vanilla ice-cream........ tragically, due to technical problems, there's no picture....

Deep-fried courgette flowers with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes

Pan-fried scallops

Baked seabass with spinach and fennel sauce