Babbo is an Italian neighbourhood restaurant at 29-31 St John’s Wood High Street in London. Its day to night format moves from breakfast and lunch to aperitivo and dinner, with a warm dining room, a vibrant bar, an intimate lounge and an outdoor heated terrace.
Executive chef Nicola Cariglia draws on his Southern Italian upbringing and family cooking traditions. Antipasti such as burrata, arancini and fritto misto lead into handmade pasta, risotto and pizzette, with seasonal produce and carefully sourced Italian ingredients shaping the menu.
The main course selection extends to fish, veal and grilled meats. Recent menus have included sea bass with cannellini beans, veal piccata with artichoke and lemon butter sauce, and chicken cooked with a mushroom and potato ragout, alongside vegetarian pasta and risotto choices.
Desserts such as tiramisu, vanilla cheesecake and crème brûlée provide a traditional finish. Italian wines and handcrafted cocktails support the restaurant’s aperitivo character, while group menus and private spaces make Babbo practical for both casual meals and celebrations.
Address: 29-31 St John's Wood High Street, London NW8 7NH, England
Babbo St John's Wood Menu
Aperitivi
CESTINO DI PANE
Selection of sourdough bread and focaccia Pugliese
OLIVE NOCELLARA E PARMIGIANO REGGIANO
Green olives, chunks of parmesan
ZUCCHINE FRITTE
Fried courgette, yoghurt sauce
MINI BABBO BURGERS
Beef burger, house pickle, spicy mayo, cheddar cheese
ARANCINI AL TARTUFO NERO
Hand-rolled rice balls, aubergine purée, seasonal truffle
Olive Nocellara and Parmigiano Reggiano
Green olives, chunks of parmesan
Mini Babbo Burgers
Beef burgers, house pickle, spicy mayo, cheddar cheese
Duo di Bruschette
Classic tomato & melted caciocavallo cheese
Antipasti
BURRATA
Burrata from Puglia, heritage tomato, Taggiasche olives, sourdough croutons, basil pesto
TARTARE DI TONNO
Bluefin tuna, celeriac & coconut dressing, crispy flat bread
COCKTAIL DI GAMBERI
Poached prawns, spicy house Marie Rose sauce, cucumber, baby gem
BABBO MEATBALLS
Veal meatballs, tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil
CARPACCIO DI MANZO
Thinly sliced beef filet, mustard dressing, capers, parmesan, crispy salad
BABBO PARMIGIANA
Aubergine, tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, parmesan
CALAMARI FRITTI
Fried squid, Padron peppers, house tartare, puffed quinoa
VITELLO TONNATO
Veal carpaccio, tuna & capers mayo, toasted hazelnuts, baby gem, veal jus
CULATELLO
Prosciutto Culatello from Parma, focaccia & buffalo mozzarella
BRESAOLA
Air-dried Tuscan Bresaola, gherkin, rocket, parmesan, carasau bread
Straccetti di Pollo
Fried chicken breast, arrabbiata sauce
Tagliere di Salumi
Prosciutto culatello, air-dried bresaola, selection of cheese
Insalata
AVOCADO & QUINOA
Avocado, black & red quinoa, cherry tomato, yoghurt, lemon dressing
SONS SALAD
Baby gem lettuce, mustard & dill dressing
CARCIOFO IN 3 CONSISTENZE
Charred, pickled and crispy artichoke, green beans, onions, parmesan, lemon dressing
INSALATA DI POLLO
Chicken breast, baby gem lettuce, sourdough croutons, parmesan, pomegranate, mustard dressing
Babbo's Pizzetta
MARGHERITA
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil
TARTUFO & FUNGHI
Mozzarella, stracciatella, seasonal truffle, wild mushrooms
BABBO-AMO
Mozzarella, grilled courgette, parmigiano
THE BOSS
Mozzarella, mortadella Bologna, basil pesto, burrata, pistachio crumble
PARADISE
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Bresaola, rocket, parmesan, Ewe’s ricotta, aubergine
Primi & Risotto
TAGLIATELLE AI FUNGHI
Wild Mushrooms, fresh herbs, parmesan
LINGUINE CON VONGOLE
Clams, courgette flower, cherry tomato, chilli
TORTELLI CARBONARA
Cacio e pepe filled tortelli, slow-cooked egg, guanciale
PAPPARDELLE OXTAIL RAGÙ
7hrs braised oxtail & beef cheek ragù, salsa verde
CAPELLI D'ANGELO AL TARTUFO NERO
Angel hair pasta, butter, sage, seasonal truffle
BABBO LASAGNE
8hrs slow-cooked beef ragù, bechamel sauce, parmesan
LOBSTER TAGLIOLINI
Half a lobster, bisque, chilli & garlic oil
RISOTTO AI FRUTTI DI MARE
Carnaroli Rice, seafood, fish broth, white wine
Pesce
TONNO SCOTTATO
Seared Yellowfin tuna, grilled asparagus, garden peas, asparagus velouté
BRANZINO
Seabass fillet, courgette flower, wild butter beans, sauté spinach, basil oil
SOGLIOLA
Whole dover sole a la plancha, lemon butter, capers, nouvelle potato, sauté spinach Price: market price
Carne & Alla Piastra
MILANESE DI VITELLO
Pan-fried veal cutlet, baby gem salad
PICCATA DI VITELLO AL LIMONE
Veal fillet, lemon & butter sauce, artichoke, mashed potato
SPIEDINO DI POLLO
Marinated chicken skewer, house dip, aubergine puree, chard, broccoli
CONTROFILETTO AL PEPE ROSA
39 day Dry aged Angus Sirloin, pink peppercorn sauce, roast baby potatoes
COSTATA DI MANZO
Scottish beef rib eye on the bone, baked new potatoes, roasted tomato, braised shallot, beef jus
COSTOLETTE D'AGNELLO
Seared lamb cutlets, fresh herbs, barley risotto, lamb ballotine, lamb jus
Contorni
SPINACI
Sautéed baby spinach
PATATE AL FORNO
Roasted potatoes, rosemary
ASPARAGI
Sauté asparagus, chives, parmesan
POMODORI
Heritage tomato, cucumber, olives, onion, blood orange dressing
BROCCOLI AGLIO E PEPERONCINO
Broccoli, garlic, chilli
Desserts
PICCOLA PASTICCERIA
Chef’s selection of mini pastries and cakes
COPPA GELATO
Coupe of home made ice creams & sorbets
TORTINO AL CIOCCOLATO
Chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream
CHEESECAKE ALLA VANIGLIA
Baked vanilla cheesecake, raspberry sauce, hazelnut ice cream
CRÈME BRÛLÉE, ARANCIA E CANNELLA
Cinnamon, orange and vanilla crème brûlée, red plum sorbet
UPSIDE DOWN ICE CREAM
Vanilla soft serve ice cream with: Caramel | Cookie dough crumble, caramel popcorn, vanilla & hazelnut praline cone; Raspberry | Raspberry coulis, vanilla crumble, fresh mixed berries
SUMMER FRUITS SALAD
Seasonal fruit
TIRAMISU
Mascarpone mousse, espresso soaked Savoiardi, chocolate crumble, coffee ice cream
STRAWBERRY & VANILLA MILLEFOGLIE
Crisp puff pastry, fresh strawberries, creme diplomate, lemon sorbet
SGROPPINO
Lemon ice cream, prosecco
Pastries, Grains & Fruit
Croissant Selection
Plain
Croissant Selection
Cream, Marmalade or Chocolate
Babbo Granola
Greek yoghurt, honey, fresh organic berries
Seasonal Fruit Platter
Seasonal fruits
Organic Eggs
Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon
Toasted & buttered Sourdough bread, crunchy salad
Poached Eggs & Avocado on Toast
Toasted seeded bread, hollandaise sauce
Omelette
Asparagus, parmesan, sourdough
Babbo Platters
Bresaola
Air-dried Tuscan Bresaola, gherkin, rocket, parmesan, carasau bread
Mortadella
Mortadella di Bologna, cherry tomatoes
Babbo Bites
Buffalo Mozzarella
Buffalo mozzarella from Campania, confit cherry tomato, basil sauce
Piccola Pasticceria
Chef’s selection of miniature pastries
Chicken Baguette
Roasted organic chicken breast, avocado, onion, lettuce, house mayo, Parmigiano Reggiano
Bambino Lunch Menu
Margherita
Bambino Meatballs
Tomato sauce, basil
Spaghetti Meatballs
Angel Hair Pasta
Butter, parmesan
Bambino Lasagne
Chicken Milanese
Roasted potato
Set Lunch
Two courses £25 per person, three courses £32 per person. Monday to Friday 12:00-15:00.
Mozzarella
Buffalo mozzarella from Campania, confit cherry tomato, basil sauce
Tiger Prawns
Battered prawns, spicy mayo
Spring Salad
Confit tuna, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, Tropea onion, walnuts, new potatoes & Mediterranean dressing
Poached Eggs
Toasted sourdough bread, sliced avocado, hollandaise
Pizzetta Marinara
Tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, fresh basil & extra virgin olive oil
Chicken Milanese
Breaded chicken breast served with rocket & cherry tomato salad
Salmone
Roast Scottish salmon fillet, spring salad, barley, avocado, coconut dressing
Cozze
Mussels sautè, garlic, white wine, fish broth, garlic bruschetta bread
Ravioli
Ricotta & spinach ravioli, tomato sauce, basil
Roast Beef
Toasted brioche bread, slow cooked roast beef, pickled salad, aged parmesan sauce
Affogato
Vanilla ice cream, shot of espresso
Orange Sponge Cake
White vanilla crumble, chocolate ice cream
Sgroppino
Lemon ice cream, prosecco
Summer Fruits Salad
Seasonal fruit
White Wine by the Bottle
CUSTOZA
Castelnuovo del Garda, Veneto, 2024
CATARRATTO IL PIOPPO
Generazione Alessandro, Sicilia, 2024
GRILLO
Vigneti Zabu, Sicilia, 2025
PINOT GRIGIO MERUS
Tiefenbrunner, Alto-Adige, 2024
Red Wine by the Bottle
NERO D'AVOLA COLLINE DELLE ROSE
Terra Vita, Sicilia, 2023
NEGROAMARO
A Mano, Puglia, 2024
BARBERA D'ASTI LE POLE
Cantina di Nizza, Piemonte, 2023
NERELLO MASCALESE IL PASSO
Vigneti Zabu’, 2024
Tequila
ESPOLON BLANCO
ESPOLON REPOSADO
VIVIR REPOSADO
DON JULIO BLANCO
Rum
KINGSTON WHITE
KINGSTON GOLD
GOSLING'S BLACK SEAL
BANKS 5YR ISLAND WHITE
Whisky
ARDBERG UIGEADAIL
BOWMORE 12YR
GLEN GRANT 12YR
GLENMORANGIE NECTAR 16YR
Italian Favourites
APERITIVO NONINO
VECCHIO AMARO DEL CAPO
AMARO AVERNA
AMARO SANTONI
Hot Drinks
ESPRESSO
DOUBLE ESPRESSO
MACCHIATO
Organic Smoothies & Juices
Vitality Boost
Blood orange juice, ginger, lemon
Detox
Cucumber juice, lime, ginger
Energise
Cranberry juice, ginger, black pepper