Lunch For Two - But Children Were Most Welcome

With our children enjoying the "delights" of Thorpe Park with friends, my husband and I decided to include lunch out in our lazy itinerary at a "grown up” restaurant deciding upon Putney’s recently opened Italian Cantinetta.

We ignored the Set Lunch Menu (2 courses £12.50 or 3 courses £15.50) as the unseasonal temperatures had affected our appetites and opted for main courses of Calves’ Liver with Spinach and a sage butter (£15.50) and Calmari in Umido (£13.50) a squid stew with peas and potatoes plus a side order of zucchine fritti (£3.00).

To drink we ordered a small 250ml carafe of wine each - my choice was the Monte Rose (£7.25) and Mark’s the Verdicchio (£7.95), plus a bottle of sparkling water which I understand is carbonated in the restaurant (we assumed this was why it was priced at a palatable £1.50 a bottle plus it must have has less impact on the environment).

My calves’ liver was wonderfully tender and a perfect pink on the inside. The spinach had just a hint of garlic without overpowering the sage butter. The squid stew was rustic with tentacle-less squid stuffed with more squid - the flavour, I am told, was fabulous but as someone allergic to seafood I will let Mark be the judge of that! The zucchini appeared to have been forgotten but quickly rectified and arrived piping hot in a small metal flowerpot. They were delicious.

We ended our lunch with piping hot espressos (£1.95) what you expect but not always available at some restaurants.

The bill including service was £54.78.

Sandi Bloomfield

April 27, 2011