Essenza is an Italian restaurant at 210 Kensington Park Road in Notting Hill. Close to Portobello Road, its intimate contemporary dining room serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, offering a quieter setting for regional Italian food in the middle of a busy neighbourhood.
The seasonal menu uses Italian ingredients wherever practical and gives pasta a central role. Classic preparations such as spaghetti with clams sit alongside other regional recipes, allowing simple sauces and carefully cooked pasta to carry the character of the meal.
Fish and seafood provide another focus, with dishes such as seared tuna and sautéed monkfish complementing the pasta selection. Meat and vegetable choices broaden the menu, and the kitchen’s regional approach means diners can build a meal across several parts of Italy rather than one narrow style.
Homemade tiramisu, panna cotta and chocolate praline offer a traditional finish, while younger diners can choose a pasta shape and sauce from the children’s menu. Reservations and takeaway are both available, but the warm room and table service make Essenza particularly suited to a relaxed meal in Notting Hill.
Address: 210 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1NR, England
Essenza Menu
Specials
Pane Carasau
Thin and crispy bread, from Sardinia served warm with olive oil and fresh rosemary.
Antipasto Italiano
Parma ham, 18 months seasoned, sun dried tomatoes,Marinated olives, pecorino Toscano, buffalo mozzarella.
Tortelloni in Salsa Basilico
Hand made Tortelloni, filled with ricotta and spinach, served with fresh tomato sauce and basil, topped with rocket and parmesan shave
Pollo alla Milanese
Deep fried breast of chicken coated with breadcrumbs, served with french fries
Risotto ai porcini
Fresh porcini mushrooms risotto
Nodino al rosmarino
Oven roasted veal chop, seared on the pan served with rosemary sauce, potatoes and spinach.
Cote de bouef
Well seasoned Scottish rib eye steak, grilled and served with rocket cherry tomatoes. Tender and tasty
Spaghetti all’ aragosta.
Spaghetti with fresh lobster for 2 people. Please allow a little longer for us to prepare it.
Children – Pasta
Choose a pasta shape, spaghetti, penne or gnocchi, then choose from the sauces below
Burro e Parmigiano
Butter and parmesan cheese
Pomodoro E Mozzarella
Tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese
Bolognese
Best quality minced beef with tomato sauce
Aurora
Tomato sauce and a touch of cream
Carbonara
Bacon, egg and a touch of cream
Pollo e pomodoro
Sauteed chopped chicken with tomato sauce and cream
Vongole
Fresh clams
Pesto
Green sauce with pine nuts, rockets and basil
Children – Fish & Meat
Vitello Milanese
Deep fried veal escalope with breadcrumbs served with french fries
Fettina Di Vitello
Veal paillard with roast potatoes
Filetto Di Spigola
Steamed fillet of sea bass served with Broccoli.
Starters
Minestrone
Fresh home made vegetable soup
Bruschetta con Pomodorini e Rucola
Char grilled Italian bread with vine and cherry tomatoes.
Burrata Pugliese
Hand made mozzarella from Puglia with a touch of cream, served with avocado, artichokes , tomatoes and rocket
Caprese di Bufala
Bufala caprese, tomato, artichokes, tomatoes and rocket salad.
Melanzane Alla Parmigiana
Baked layers of aubergines, mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil topped with parmesan
Prosciutto e Mozzarella di Bufala
Well seasoned, traditional Italian parma ham with buffalo mozzarella
Carpaccio di Manzo
Thinly sliced raw fillet of beef with rocket, cherry tomatoes, parmesan
Cozze e Vongole
Mussels and fresh royal clams sauteed, in white wine, tomato and garlic
Tartare di Tonno
Diced and raw first quality tuna, marinated with extra virgin olive oil and lemon, served with avocado and rocket
Calamari e Gamberoni Fritti
Deep fried squid rings and prawns.
Antipasto Italiano
Parma Ham, sun-dried tomatoes,pecorino toscano, marinated olives and salami
Pasta
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Spaghetti with bacon, egg and a touch of cream
Penne all’ Arrabiata
Pasta quills with tomato sauce and chilli
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, Peperoncino
Spaghetti with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and chilli
Gnocchi 4 Formaggi
Potato dumplings with four cheese sauce
Spaghetti alle Vongole
Spaghetti with fresh royal clams
Spaghetti con Pomodori Arrostiti e Pesto
Spaghetti with roasted tomatoes, rocket pesto, pine nuts and oregano.
Tonnarelli all’Amatriciana
A thicker version spaghetti freshly made using free ran=ge spaghetti, with bacon, onions and tomato sauce.
Tortelloni in salsa Aurora
Hand-folded fresh pasta filled with ricotta and spinach in a tomato and basil sauce
Fettuccine Porcini e Pancetta
Hand made, wide flat pasta with porcini mushrooms and bacon
Tonnarelli alla Gricia
A thicker version of spaghetti freshly made using free range eggs,with guanciale (cured pork cheeks) and pecorino cheese.
Risotto ai Gamberoni
Risotto with saffron, shrimps, courgettes, and King Prawns
Spaghetti cacio e pepe.
A typical dish from Rome, simple made with tasty sauce of pecorino cheese and black pepper
Tonnarelli alla Marinara
A thicker version of spaghetti, freshly made using free range eggs, with prawns, clams, mussels and squid with a touch of tomato sauce.
Fettuccine alla Bolognese
Hand made wide pasta with premium minced beef and porcini mushrooms
Spaghetti ai Gamberoni
Spaghetti with chilli, tomato sauce and king prawns.(off the shell)
Tagliatelle al Tartufo Nero
Hand made pasta with fresh black shaved seasonal truffle (available as starter and main course portions)
Tagliatelle con Tartufo Nero
Hand made pasta with fresh black shaved seasonal truffle (available as starter and main course portions)
Meat
Pollo alla Griglia
Grilled breast of chicken with roast potatoes, rocket, artichokes and cherry tomatoes
Vitello Crema e Funghi
Veal escalopes with cream and mushrooms served with peas
Saltimbocca alla Romana
Veal escalopes sautéed, topped with 18 month matured prosciutto crudo and sage served with peas
Vitello alla Parmigiana
Deep fried veal escalope in breadcrumbs with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese served with spaghetti
Filetto di Manzo alla Griglia
Fillet of beef with porcini sauce, served with mash potatoes
Ossobuco alla Milanesee
Oven roasted veal ossobuco served with saffron risotto
Seafood
Spigola alla Griglia
Whole sea bass, filleted and char grilled with extra virgin olive oil and herbs, served with steamed broccoli
Trancio di Tonno
Seared tuna with chilli and extra virgin olive oil, served with fried courgettes
Calamari alla Griglia
Char grilled fresh squid with chilli, rocket and cherry tomatoes
Guazzetto di Pescatrice
Sautéed monkfish, king prawns with tomato sauce and shallots
Grigliata di Crostacei
Selection of char grilled, monk fish, squid, king and tiger prawns
Sides
Pomodoro e Cipolla
Tomato, onion and basil salad.
Fagiolini all’Agro
Steamed French beans
Broccoli al Vapore
Steamed broccoli
Piselli Pancetta
Steamed peas sautéed, with bacon
Piselli Bolliti
Steamed peas
Spinaci Saltati / Bolliti
Spinach, sautéed or steamed
Insalata Verde / Mista
Selection of green or mixed leaves with avocado
Patate Arrosto / Fritte / Puree
Potatoes sautéed, French Fries or Mash
Zucchine Fritte
Deep fried courgettes
Rucola con Parmigiano
Rocket salad, parmesan flakes and cherry tomatoes
Vegetali Grigliati
Char grilled aubergines, red peppers courgettes, Belgian chicory
Napoletana
Side portion of spaghetti with tomato sauce and garlic
Desserts
Lemon Sorbet, Vanilla or Choccolate ice cream
1 scoop, 2 scoops or 3 scoops
Panna Cotta
Perfectly homemade creamy with a choice of caramel, strawberry, choccolate sauce or lemon sauce.
Tartufo
A sabajon semifreddo ice cream ice cream choccolate coated with crushed hazelnuts and cocoa.
Tiramisu
Home made Tiramisu with pasteurised eggs, cream, savoiardi biscuits, chocolate and coffee.
Ananas
Fresh pineapple served with lemon sorbet
Affogato
Vanilla ice cream, espresso with a touch of amaretto
White Wine
Falanghina Beneventano, Bellamico. Igt
From Campania, 100% Falanghina
Pinot Grigio, Castel Firmian. Doc
From Trentino, 100% Pinot Grigio
Gavi di Gavi, la Contessa. Docg
From Piemonte, 100% Cortese
Vermentino. Soprasole. Pala.Doc.
From Sardinia, 100% Vermentino. Highly recomended.
Cervaro, Castello della Sala, Antinori. Igt
From Umbria, 80% Chardonnay, 20% Grecchetto
Rose Wine
Bardolino Chiaretto, Cavalchina. Doc
From Veneto, 55% Corvina, 35% Rondinella 10% Molinara. A fresh and lively wine ideal for summer drinking
Whispering Angel.
From France, Grenache,Cinsault and Rolle. A fresh and lively wine ideal for summer drinking
Red Wine
Merlot, Castel Firmian, Mezzacorona. Doc
From Trentino, 100% Merlot
Chianti Classico, Peppoli , Antinori. Docg
From Toscana, 100% Sangiovese
Il Bruciato, Bolgheri Guado Al Tasso. Doc
From Toscana, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Rocca. Doc
From Lombardy, 100% Montepulciano grape
Amarone Classico Costasera, Masi. Doc
From Veneto, Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara
Barolo Riserva Essenze. Docg
From Piemonte, 100% Nebbiolo
Brunello di Montalcino, Pian delle Vigne Antinori. Docg
From Toscana, 100% Sangiovese
Tignanello, Antinori. Igt (2022)
From Toscana, 75% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri (2003)
From Toscana, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Ornellaia, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. Doc. Superiore (2008)
From Toscana, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri (2005)
From Toscana, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Barolo, Paesi Tuoi, Vite Colte. Docg
From Piemonte, 100% Nebbiolo
Magnum
Barolo Riserva Essenze, Docg (2001)
100% Nebbiolo. A deep ruby red tending to garnet, a complex nose that includes ethereal, with hints of violets and blackberry jam, licorice and cloves. On the palates it is dry, full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lovely chocolate, berry aftertaste.