This smart Italian eatery, the more centrally located sister to La Tagliata in Spitalfields, is where Fitzrovia’s board execs and all-round big dawgs come to carbload. In a stylish dining room just off the top end of Tottenham Court Road, La Tagliata Fitzrovia prides itself on serving traditional plates of pasta, fish and carne, and using seasonal produce. And while there’s simplicity in the ingredients, the presentation, service and setting are more polished, with prices reflecting that.
Starters here are predominantly predictable Italian staples – bread, prosciutto, cheese, erm, more bread. King prawns in lobster sauce were among the more inspiring options, and they arrived chubby and sweet, though the sauce lacked proper pizzazz. Much better was the aubergine parmigiana, made with crispy layers of fried aubergine and zingy tomatoes, oozing lava-like mozzarella.
Homemade tagliatelle laced with porcini mushroom béchamel, truffle oil and Italian sausage was not only perfectly cooked but bloody delicious. A bowl of gnocchi tossed with asparagus, gorgonzola cream and crumbed pistachios was also a delight. But the eponymous La Tagliata sirloin, though nicely cooked and well seasoned, was nothing to write home about. Dessert was worse: the panna cotta, which sounded like a total dreamboat on paper, was flavourless and lost amid a swamp of raspberry coulis.
Service was relaxed and leisurely (though still attentive) and the all-Italian wine list fairly priced, which makes La Tagliata the ideal spot for a long and boozy business lunch. Especially if your boss is footing the bill.