Tarantella — Restaurant in London

Tarantella, Chiswick – A Hidden Gem Serving Soulful Italian Fare

Nestled in the heart of Chiswick lies a charming little spot that’s quietly making waves for all the right reasons – Tarantella.

This intimate Italian restaurant, run by the passionate duo Mark and Luciana, is a true hidden gem where heartfelt hospitality meets culinary excellence.

From the moment we stepped inside, we were welcomed with warmth and care. Mark, who personally hosted us, ensured we felt right at home. His exceptional service set the tone for what turned out to be a memorable dining experience.

The Starters – A Taste of the Mediterranean We began our meal with a couple of standout dishes that immediately transported us to coastal Italy:

Insalata di Mare – A beautiful, classic Italian seafood salad. Mixed seafood, gently cooked and marinated, was elegantly served in a radicchio leaf. Every bite was fresh, zesty, and evocative of Mediterranean breezes.

Crostini con Bieta e Stracciatella – A simple yet satisfying starter of toasted bread topped with sautéed chard and creamy mozzarella. A lovely balance of earthiness and richness that eased us into the meal.

Also, I think I just ate the best olives here. Wow.

The Mains – True Italian Craftsmanship Tarantella’s main courses showcased not only quality ingredients but also creativity and care in preparation.

Margherita Pizza – A timeless classic done to perfection. Made with Fiordilatte mozzarella, tomato, basil, and oregano. My son, a true little pizza connoisseur, loved it so much that he polished off two! A testament to how good it really was.

Gamberi su un Purè di Fave Fresche e Bietole – Grilled large shrimps laid atop a vibrant broad bean purée with sautéed chard. This dish was a showstopper – fresh, hearty, and packed with flavour.

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe con Gambero Rosso e Polvere di Tartufo Nero – A luxurious take on the Roman classic. Fresh tonnarelli pasta bathed in creamy cacio e pepe, topped with Mazara red shrimp tartare and a dusting of black truffle powder. Rich, elegant, and indulgent – an absolute must-try.

Ravioli agli Asparagi con Burro al Limone e Noci – Ravioli filled with asparagus and ricotta, dressed in a lemon butter sauce with walnuts. Comforting and refined with a beautiful citrusy lift.

Dessert – A Viral Sensation To finish, Mark brought out something truly special – the viral giant tiramisu. This alcohol-free version was hands down one of the best tiramisus we've ever had. It was light, creamy, and rich in flavour without being overly sweet. A perfect end to an unforgettable meal.

Final Thoughts

Tarantella isn’t just a restaurant – it’s a heartfelt experience. Whether you’re after comforting classics or bold new twists on Italian cuisine, Mark and Luciana’s little haven in Chiswick delivers on every front. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to – and bring others along to discover.

If you're ever in West London and craving authentic Italian dishes made with passion and care, Tarantella should be at the top...

The expectations of this restaurant was too high for what i received. I walked by this restaurant so many time because i live in the area, so i decided to come in this “italian” restaurant for try how it is.

We been served from a really polite waitress, kind and friendly. We ordered bruschetta which was very good but the main dishes wasn’t that impressive. The gnocchi was cold and looks microwaved. We called the waitress to ask why the food was cold, and she said can be prepared again. After few minutes came out the chef, explaining why the gnocchi “should be” cold. Very politely i said I don’t want it, if supposed to be like that.

I ordered also a pizza. Ham and mushroom, which unlikely as well wasn’t that impressive. The homemade was different from what i used to eat over and over. The crust was very big and doughy, the mushroom wasn’t cut and the taste wasn’t that impressive. But, the overall was ok till the time we get the bill.

We receive the bill and on top of that there was the gnocchi which we asked to take it back.

In the end i have to count the bills without the gnocchi. Ask why there was on the bill and the chef said because we ordered, don’t even thinking we returned it.

Anyway. My expectations was too high for be italian. Customer service lower than perfect, food tasteless and cold and unfair in terms of payment.

Coming back?...

I would like to make everyone aware of my experience of eating in this "restaurant".

I decided to rate just 1 star but if I could I would rate 0 or minus if possible.

Even though I have a questionable taste about the having a plastic curtains outside the main door, this did not help when I took a seat one of the tables by the entrance. It was so windy and cold (with door closed) that I had to wear my coat and scarf during the entire time.

I ordered pasta with duck ragu as I usually eat duck most of the times when I go out. When I received the dish I could see that, just looking, the meat WAS NOT DUCK but i decided to taste just to have a benefit of the doubt.

Well, when I tasted it was clearly NOT DUCK but BEEF. I also let my friends (3 other people) have a taste of it and they all agree it was not duck.

I let the waitress know about this and she called the chef. Once with us, I explained him the matter and he asked me "did you have ever eat duck before?" (so rude). The entire conversation was about him saying I was wrong and he also assumed that mine was an excuse to justify that i just did not like it.

At that point I decided to give back the dish and to avoid ordering anything else. NEVER COMING BACK but I also hope this does not happen to anyone else as...