Putney has more than it’s fair share of eateries, so a blackboard on the High Street promising ‘free tasters’ to accompany your glass of wine at this newish little Italian may give an air of desperation in the face of the opposition. Not so, once inside – the waiter shrugs, ‘we’re busy some nights, some nights not. But they will come.’ And he’s right, of course. The menu isn’t extensive, but Totide is one of those places where you’ll wonder what to go for on your next visit, and that’s before you’ve even ordered food the first time round.
Pretty much everything is carefully sourced and imported from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy – this is not just restricted to produce (which is delivered weekly), but also includes the charming and efficient Italian staff. Could we find fault? The sausage sauce with pumpkin-filled ravioli (£9.50) was perhaps slightly over-seasoned. There, I’ve said it. Blasphemy to Totide’s growing army of admirers, I know.