RESTAURANT REVIEW: WORKING LUNCH AT IT LONDON, DOVER STREET
Dreaming of Ibiza? Behind a discreet facade and through darkened glass doors lies IT London, a decadent and bustling bar and restaurant in a former Mayfair gallery space. IT was founded by Alessio Matrone in November 2019 following on from the success of IT in Ibiza, which appeared in 2015. You can now visit IT restaurants in Milan, Porto Cervo, Tulum and Mykonos too - a testament to the group’s dining concept.
Alessio describes his IT brand as ‘fine Mediterranean cuisine meets the Balearic beat of Ibiza’, which feels especially appropriate for London in 2021 following many months of travel restrictions. Visitors can expect a fusion of fine dining and daily music sets from international DJs, giving it a little edge over quieter nearby restaurants. If you have the time, you’re likely to stay for cocktails after dessert to soak up the atmosphere rather than darting off.
At 1pm on a Wednesday afternoon, IT London was bustling with well-dressed locals and visitors swilling Perrier-Jouët and colourful cocktails over lobster linguinis and Tomahawk steaks. The dimly lit, glitzy interior makes you forget the world outside, so if you’re ever in need of a Mayfair hideout on drizzly day, this is a great option.
We sat in the window at a round, brushed gold table with plush, scallop-edged velvet seats next to the bar. I ordered a Ceder’s Delight to remedy the swelteringly hot day - light and refreshing with Ceder’s Crisp, bitter orange, cucumber water and citrus. Rebecca opted for a classic Negroni to wake her up for an afternoon of meetings.
Spaghetto ai pomodori
For lunch, Rebecca, an avid seafood lover, ordered two ways tuna with smoked mozzarella foam and melon', followed by grilled sea-bass with courgette and mint. She reported that both dishes were a taste sensation, and further accentuated the holiday vibe with a Strawberry Mojito. I opted for the artfully plated Spaghetto ai pomodori, an IT signature, with a side of perfectly sautéed spinach. Quite simply delicious.
On the whole, the IT portion sizes are light, so we’d recommend that you go all out and order a starter, main, dessert and a couple of side dishes. The carefully curated À La Carte Menu is concise and easy to navigate. The service is fast and you’re highly unlikely to leave IT London in a gluttonous stupor, which we see as a plus. Perfect for a working lunch.
IT London, 28-29, Dover St, Mayfair, London W1S 4LX
+44 (0) 20 3887 4360 | london@itrestaurants.com
