Restaurant Review: Ostuni, Queen's Park, London

Ostuni, Queen's Park: Restaurant Review:

Cuisine: Southern Italian
Style Points: 4/5
Price: ££
Overall: 4/5

I do love the buzz of a newly opened restaurant! I was lucky enough to get a booking to dine at Ostuni just a few days after it had opened in Queen’s Park and loved the entire experience.

Ostuni is London’s first restaurant dedicated to the cuisine of Puglia in Italy and this has created quite a hype. Despite being opening week, there was a queue snaking out the door for seats at the restaurant and the bar, so booking is definitely advised!

The interior of the restaurant has a rustic feel about it, with traditional wooden chairs and tables, white broken tiles on the walls, and an old collection of keys being used as wall design. It is obvious from this that much attention has been paid to the décor and it still has the new smell about it.

Alongside a well stocked bar, there is also an open kitchen full of capable and strong looking Italian chefs.

The inside of the restaurant is cosy without being overbearing and there is also a comfortable and leafy outdoor seating area which will make a lovely space to relax in during the summer time.

Would I Want Seconds?

Although I didn’t recognise many of the dishes on the menu, it was all very well explained by a knowledgeable Italian waiter who gave us some delicious recommendations.

The food isn't served until 6.30pm so we started with cocktails which were expertly made by the barman, who, as we were seated at the bar, also engaged us in lovely conversation about Puglia and the restaurant itself.

My Orecchiette Maritate Crudaiola

Mixed Grill Fish

For starters, we ordered a basket of assorted bread including focaccia and taralli, as well as very unique tasting Bella di Cerignola Olives. My main course was absolutely exquisite even though it wasn’t the most exciting looking thing on the menu! I chose the ‘Orecchiette Maritate Crudaiola’  (Cherry tomatoes, basil and salted ricotta), one of the few vegetarian dishes, which has to be the most amazing pasta dish I have eaten in London.

One of Ostuni’s specialities are grills and, as recommended by our waiter, my dining companion ordered the scrumptious ‘Mixed Grilled Fish’ which included squid, bream, prawn, tuna.

Ostuni prides itself on sourcing all of their ingredients and this is evident not just from the wonderful flavours in the food but also in the restaurant itself. There are delicious unique bottles of Puglian olive oil dotted on all the tables and massive chunks of matured cheese as well as specialty Puglian wine are on display throughout the restaurant too.

Could I Afford Seconds?

The portions at Ostuni are large and the taste is so good that diners are guaranteed to eat more than their usual intake.

The quality of the food here is the highlight and diners will feel as if they are getting much more than they paid for, with the prices of starters ranging from £3 - £8 and main courses between £8 - £18.

Cocktails cost the standard London price of about £8 but they are well made by experienced barmen.

Our Meal

Overall: 5/5

As a foodie in London, my favourite dining experiences always come from eating at a newly opened restaurant. This is because you are much more able to witness the inner workings of the restaurant whilst all the minor details are being ironed out.

There was a lot of nervous energy about in Ostuni but this is normal with any new venture.

The staff at Ostuni were slightly rushed but still attentive and interested to know more about us, asking not just about the food but also discretely gathering market research on how we heard about the restaurant. I had lovely conversations with the barmen and the waiters and I do hope that Ostuni can continue to provide this personal service as the number of diners and their demand grows.

Ostuni is now my favourite new local restaurant and one which I am sure I will spend many evenings in.

Website: ostuniristorante.co.uk