It is always nice to find a gem of a restaurant or bar in your local area, especially one which the blogging/reviewing world has not picked up on. Enter Due Fratelli in Putney, South West London. Situated on Putney Bridge Road just up from Wandsworth Park it is rather unassuming and also caught in a strip where restaurants seem to come and go (a Frankie’ Bar and Grill by Marco Pierre White being one of them). Don’t let this put you off, Due Fratelli’s makes Italian food that’s worth taking the district line out to Putney to try for yourself!
The restaurant is run by the very friendly Luigi who used to be a waiter then manager here before buying it for himself. He greeted us at the door and led us through the front cafeteria style area (they do gourmet baguettes and the like during the day) through to the small but well lit dining room. The decor is minimal but has a relaxed atmosphere and Luigi made us feel right at home, bringing bread and water and letting us take our time (which we usually do) ordering our starters.
I had Calamari con rucola, olio e peperoncino (grilled fresh squid with rocket salad and chilli oil), £8.50 which was just as squid should be, fresh and tender the chilli oil and rocket were a refreshing start to my meal as well. My partner had Mozzarella di bufala con melanzane (buffalo mozzarella with grilled aubergines and pesto sauce) £7, which was also a very fresh and light way to start a meal. The Mozzarella was of good quality and the pesto sauce perfect. We ordered a house red to accompany our starters and it was OK, nothing to write home about but at £13 a bottle not too bad.
Since the dining room is fairly small (8 or 9 tables) the service is very attentive and our wine glasses and water were filled up without us even having to think twice about it. For the main course I ordered Filetto di spigola con carciofi e pomodori (pan-fried sea bass, served with artichokes, roast tomatoes and herbs) £16.50, which was very good. As with the starters (and all good Italian food) the dish let the ingredients sing without too much interfering. The Sea Bass was fresh and cooked perfectly with a super crispy skin, the tomatoes gave a nice acidic punch to the fish and the artichoke hearts were a good balance. My partner ordered what I kind of wanted to get (but I always get in Italian places) Faraona ripeieni di spinaci e taleggio (breast of guinea fowl, stuffed with taleggio cheese and spinach, served with roast potatoes) £14.50. I am kind of sad I didn’t get it as it was up there with one I ate in Panicale in Umbria, Italy (Which was utterly amazing). The bird was moist and the fillings oozing out accompanied by very crispy roast potatoes which looked made to order (sometimes you know they have just re-heated them!). Both dishes has a very simple refined presentation that was rustic but with added attention to detail.
I quite like it when I actually have room for pudding, usually I don’t. The Panna cotta con salsa di mirtilli (baked cream pudding with wild berry sauce) £4.50, was too much for me to resist however and it was very good, Creamy Panna cotta with a sharp berry sauce. We also ordered some Gelati to share which wasn’t the best Gelati I have ever had but it was ok… I like my lemon Gelati to be very very sour!
I suppose Due Fratelli isn’t the cheapest night out for a local place with the bill coming in at just under £70 for two with a bottle of red, but for the quality of food and attention to detail plus the authentic Italian flavours and warm atmosphere it is a perfect place for a romantic dinner date or to celebrate something special. They also hire out the whole dining room for big family events which would be perfect for an Italian family dinner feast to remember. We will definitely go back, and as we left Luigi mentioned they do the best eggs Benny in town – so I will 100% be back for a lazy brunch one Sunday!
Posted by Mise En Place Catering and Hospitality Recruitment
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