London Must-Eat List: Da Mario – My Top Italian Restaurant!

🇮🇹 Restaurant: Da Mario 📍 Location: South Kensington This spot is the Italian food (ceiling – meaning the absolute best) in my book—it has never let me down! Not only is it incredibly cost-effective (total value for money), but even Princess Diana once dined at this South Kensington branch. Talk about a legendary spot 👑! 🦞 Seafood Spaghetti | £20 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Let’s start with the star—this seafood spaghetti is a non-negotiable! The seafood is super fresh: the mussels are plump, large, and totally sand-free (no gritty surprises here 🐚). The sauce is a bright, tangy tomato base—light enough to let the seafood’s natural sweetness shine, but flavorful enough to coat every strand of pasta. It’s exactly the kind of spaghetti I crave, and I can’t recommend it enough. 🖤 Squid Ink Pasta | ~£22 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Heads up: this one’s a seasonal special, so it might not be on the menu every time you visit (fingers crossed you catch it!). What makes it stand out? The pasta itself—extra chewy with that satisfying “al dente” bite, dyed black with squid ink for a subtle briny kick. It pairs perfectly with whatever fresh seafood they toss in (think tender squid or shrimp), making it a fun, flavorful alternative to the classic seafood spaghetti. 🥣 Seafood Soup | £22 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my absolute favorite—it’s pure magic, especially on cold London winter days ❄️! One sip, and it feels like a warm hug. The portion of seafood is insane: you’ll find big juicy prawns, tiny sweet shrimp, tender fish chunks, meaty mussels, chewy squid, and briny clams—all swimming in a rich, savory broth that tastes like it’s been simmered for hours. It’s hearty enough to be a light meal on its own, but trust me, you’ll want to save room for the mains too. 🥘 Seafood Risotto | ~£20 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re torn between pasta and rice, this risotto is the answer—but you really only need to pick one (it’s a “spaghetti vs. risotto” vibe, not a “get both” one). The risotto is creamy and luxurious, with each grain of rice plump and infused with seafood stock. It’s loaded with the same fresh seafood as the soup and spaghetti, so you get that same delicious ocean flavor—just in a cozy, rice-based form. Great for anyone who loves that melt-in-your-mouth risotto texture. 🍰 Tiramisu No Italian meal is complete without dessert, and Da Mario’s tiramisu does not disappoint! It’s the classic done right: layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, light mascarpone cream, and a dusting of cocoa powder. Not too sweet, not too boozy—just rich, creamy, and the perfect way to end your meal. Don’t overthink it—just order it. 🦐 Star Starters You Must Try - Garlic Shrimp: Juicy shrimp tossed in a fragrant garlic butter (or tomato) sauce—so flavorful, you’ll lick your fingers clean. ​ - Tomato-Based Garlic Bread: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, slathered with a zesty tomato-garlic spread. It’s not your average garlic bread—it’s next-level, and I beg you to add it to your order. 💰 Price Average cost: £35 per person (for a full meal with starter, main, dessert, and a drink—total steal for the quality and location!). #LondonBeautifulRestaurants #LondonRestaurantHopping #LondonRestaurantRecommendations #LondonItalianFood #SouthKensingtonEats