This week I went for a girlie night out with Bangers and Bean (don't ask). We decided to go to Zilli Fish as they have an amazing set menu at the moment. Three courses for £19.90 - not bad.
The last time I went to Aldo Zilli's restaurant was on my 21st Birthday many moons ago, and it made a significant impact. I was worried that the restaurant wouldn't live up to my memories of Tuna Carpaccio and Lobster Spaghetti. I shouldn't have fretted.
We met in the pub first - The Warwick - which has a 50% off happy hour between 5pm - 8pm seven days a week - which is pretty impressive. This meant we had already consumed a bottle of wine before we even darkened the doors of Zilli.
We were greeted at the door by a very friendly Maitre d' and were offered any seat in the house practically. The restaurant was a tad on the empty side, but the room is encased by floor to ceiling windows, so the view of Soho is enough to make the place feel busy.
We all ordered the same thing, Thai Mussels to start and Spicy Seafood Spaghetti for mains. Plus a bottle of house white (of course). The starter was very generous, full of citrus and chilli, and perfectly cooked. The mussels were juicy and fat. My only complaint being there was nothing to soak up the beautiful broth with. A couple of pieces of bread would have been a nice touch.
The spaghetti was just as good. It was full to the brim with squid, prawns, langoustine, mussels and clams. The sauce was deep and warm with the heat of the chilli, and very comforting on the first drenched day of Autumn. There is nothing I can criticise about this dish. It was perfect.
The service throughout the meal was impeccable. Not once did we have to pour our own drinks and the speed of delivery was just right. We were given enough time to have a good old chin wag but not wonder where the food was. We were feeling so happy and well fed that we ordered another bottle of wine - oh dear!
We took a while to decide whether we wanted dessert or not, and in the end went for two between three of us. We shared the Pannacotta with Summer Fruit Coulis and Bannofee Pie. The Pannacotta was a large dome with a lashings of coulis. The texture was smooth and worked perfectly with the tartness of the fruit. The bannofee pie was pure cream with a bit of banana and toffee sandwiched between the biscuit base. It was very naughty and very nice.
The total was £104.00 including service, which isn't bad for a celebrity chef's restaurant, three courses, excellent food and damn-near perfect service. The only minus was the lack of atmosphere. But I'm sure on a Saturday night, when it's fully booked, the place is magic.
The three of us tottered very merrily through the deluge to Piccadilly Station.
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