The Italian restaurant is known for its super-sized portions.
Las Vegas has one, Los Angeles has one, Singapore has one, and now London has its own outpost of celebrity favourite LAVO. The Italian restaurant first opened in West Hollywood, Los Angeles in 2022 and has welcomed celebrity guests including Kim, Khloe and Kendall Kardashian, Hilary Duff and Mario Lopez. The London location is in a subterranean space beneath The BoTree Hotel, a bohemian retreat for revelry between Marylebone and Mayfair.
The entrance to LAVO London is marked by a Vespa before fanning out around an Instagram-worthy olive tree. Pulsating beats emanate from this den for dining, drinking (and perhaps dancing) before we even descend the stairway. Once inside, comfortable booths line the edges of the room, while the centre boasts a more formal arrangement. Confident staff flit breezily between diners, offering proficient service despite the busy footfall.
LAVO in London serves Italian cuisine with a coastal flair. The Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scamardella and Culinary Director Stefano Lorenzini are behind the menu, which focuses on fresh pasta made in-house and whole grain pizzas. A meal at LAVO begins with the presentation of a citrus menu, allowing diners to pick which piece of fruit would best suit their water preference: grapefruit, lemon, lime or orange. It’s a chic touch which is soon superseded by the sheer size of the signature starter. The Meatball (£30) is 500g of Wagyu and Italian pork sausage swimming in a rich marinara sauce and topped with fresh whipped ricotta. Superb for sharing, the compacted meat is cut like a cake and served in slices, offering a tender treat that belies its boulder-like appearance.
The Scampi Ai Ferri (£32) is a daintier dish. A pretty plate of wild Scottish langoustines nestled amidst aromatic garlic butter, capers and fresh lemon. Easily exhumed from their shells, the meat is a delicate delight.
It would be almost impossible to dine on Italian cuisine and not order the Beef Carpaccio (£26) and LAVO London’s version offers thin slithers of beef topped with a robust combination of black truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano and rocket: Bellissimo.
Pasta, pizza and protein form the crux of the main menu. The Burrata Pizza (£24) proves a popular choice with its blistered crust almost collapsing under the weight of the creamy cheese, pieces of pancetta and a sprinkling of red onion and rocket. The Penne Alla Vodka (£25) is a LAVO London signature that looks simple thanks to the tubes of penne pasta but transpires to be a beautiful blend of cream, prosciutto and spicy tomato. Pasta plates are generously portioned, and we find ourselves enamoured with the Silk Handkerchiefs (£26), a wild boar white bolognese topped with Parmigiano Reggiano and plenty of black truffle.
While we’d always suggest leaving room for dessert, LAVO London often feels like an episode of the reality television show Man v. Food. From the mountainous Meatball to the 20 Layer Peanut Butter Cake (£20), a food coma is guaranteed. The wow-worthy dessert is an exercise in excess and clocks in at over 3,000 calories and is best described as a slab rather than a slice. The tasty treat makes a welcome change from the traditional Tiramisu (also available) and boasts layer upon layer of moist chocolate devil’s cake sandwiched with peanut butter and mascarpone.
This marvellous Mediterranean escape comes to London from Tao Group. The company is behind hospitality hits, which include the critically acclaimed restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha and also runs three of the top ten highest-grossing restaurants in the USA.
If you’re looking for super-sized portions that are superb for sharing, LAVO London is the answer.
GO: Visit https://taogroup.com for more information.