R and R Black / 27 May 2025 / Categories: Food & Drink, Restaurants

Sparrow Italian Mayfair A little bird told me

Where you can get 3 course for £48

My friend went to one in Miami and said “you know they’ve got one in London”

She rated the restaurant so highly we decided to check it out and what fun we had. I went with a girlfriend, it was a glorious day and we sat outside on the roof of the three storey town house in the heart of the west end.

From the outside you’d never imagine what is lurking inside, gorgeous modern very Shi Shi interiors with an amazing bar area and spectacular lighting.

I love Italian food anyway so the menu suited me down to ground, we went for the crispy Kale Caesar salad to start and then we both tried the puttanesca pasta, which was fragrant with sweet tomatoes and salty from the black olives, neatly tossed in perfectly cooked el dente pasta just the way I like it.

My friend ordered a glass of red. She asked for a Malbec which was substituted with an Italian equivalent she said was very very smooth and very drinkable. I ordered a GENOVESE cocktail, tequila, cucumber, basil, lime, chartreuse, cointreau, agave followed by a glass of Italian sparkling wine, not sure of the name or vintage but it went down beautifully with the pasta.

The guests were very smartly dressed. We didn’t read the website before booking, they did take a credit card for the table reservation and I was asked to remove my baseball cap; a first so I wished I’d got my hair done but hey, rules is rules.

It didn’t spoil things even though it was pretty sunny and I didn’t take my sunglasses. We stayed on the patio outdoor terrace anyway, aptly named the Sparrows Nest, cute. I cannot think of another restaurant in Mayfair that offers Al fresco dining in a perfect setting like this. We really did feel on top of the world.

The set menu for lunch is three courses and the menu is extensive, definitely something for everyone, beautiful meat, fish, and seafood choices as well as vegetarian and vegan choices that were both inventive and imaginative.

The food we couldn’t fault it. A definite must visit for a great value £48 per head.

With the wine and one cocktail the bill was £160 plus tip which considering how much food we’d had and super attentive beautiful five star service we’ll definitely be returning.

For cigar smokers they have the best cigar lounge in London (apparently) on the third floor aficionados can enjoy.

I can imagine this place is hopping and heaving in equal measure in the evening but for anyone looking for a stylish lunch experience, delicious Italian cuisine surrounded by attentive staff and hip comfortable interiors the Sparrow is the place of the moment everyone seems to be talking about.

I’d never even heard of it however once I started telling people I’d been I heard people saying you know so and so goes there, you know it’s really hard to get a table.

We just booked online and were welcomed open arms for lunch mid week. That said it was quite busy for a Wednesday. Fore warned is fore armed. Don’t flake out on your reservation without letting them know ahead of time because if you do expect £50 to be charged to your credit card.

Thankyou everyone, especially the Maitre D’ whose name we didn’t catch but the lasting impression made me want to share.