Pentolina Brook Green is an independent family run Italian restaurant at 71 Blythe Road. Founded by local residents Heidi and Michele Ballarati in 2011, it has grown into a warm neighbourhood dining room with a loyal local following. The menu changes with the seasons and expresses a simple philosophy of cooking the food the owners themselves want to eat.
Starters can include braised octopus with spinach and potatoes, pea velouté with king prawns and long cured ham with fresh buffalo mozzarella. Burrata is paired with asparagus, broad beans, peas and mint, while baked Tomino goat cheese with honey and almonds and a fennel, beetroot and orange salad show the kitchen’s range with vegetables.
Pasta is central, from paccheri with nduja and aged pecorino to anchovy paccheri with lemon and breadcrumbs. Fresh tagliolini combines courgette, lemon, basil and ricotta, while spaghetti with Cornish crab and caramelised tomatoes highlights seafood. Beef fillet, baked sea bass and vitello tonnato provide substantial choices beyond pasta.
Desserts remain distinctly Italian through tiramisu, pistachio cake with date sauce, pear and ricotta cake, nougat semifreddo and soft chocolate cake with orange. Coconut crème brûlée and fresh pineapple with mint add lighter alternatives, while regional cheese and Italian wine allow the meal to finish in a more savoury direction.
Address: 71 Blythe Road, Brook Green, London W14 0HP, United Kingdom