Bottarga London: A Must-Try Mediterranean Restaurant in London

There are some restaurants you leave feeling satisfied, and then there are the rare ones you leave genuinely impressed, the ones where you’re already planning your next visit. It’s been a long time since I’ve visited a restaurant where every single dish felt like a hit, and Bottarga delivered exactly that.

From the moment we walked through the door to the final bite of dessert, everything felt thoughtful, intentional, and quietly confident. This wasn’t a place trying too hard to impress, it simply let the food, the atmosphere, and the service speak for themselves. Whether you’re planning a date night, a girls’ night out, or just want to treat yourself to seriously good food, Bottarga is one of those places that genuinely lives up to the hype.

About Bottarga

Bottarga draws inspiration from Greek and Mediterranean flavours, reimagined in a modern, elevated way without losing their soul. It’s not about heavy plates or over complication, instead, Bottarga focuses on high-quality ingredients and flavour combinations that feel both familiar and exciting.

The space itself is beautifully considered. When you walk in, you’re immediately offered the option to have your coats hung in the closet, which feels like a small but thoughtful touch that sets the tone for the rest of the evening. The interior leans towards an intimate, antique-inspired aesthetic, with candlelit tables and warm lighting that instantly make you feel comfortable.

Bottarga is open daily from 12–3:30 pm for lunch and 6–10:30 pm for dinner, making it equally suited to a leisurely afternoon meal or a relaxed evening out.

What is Bottarga Known For?

Bottarga has built a strong reputation for its Mediterranean-inspired menu, particularly its seafood and meat dishes, beautifully executed sharing plates. It’s a restaurant that understands balance, rich dishes are offset by freshness, and indulgent elements are paired with lighter, brighter flavours. While the name itself refers to cured fish roe, the menu extends far beyond that, showcasing a thoughtful selection of dips, small plates, vegetables, seafood, and premium cuts of meat.

What really stands out is how consistently well-executed everything is. This isn’t a place with one or two standout dishes surrounded by fillers. Every item we tried felt carefully crafted and deserving of its place on the menu. The bluefin tuna, in particular, has clearly earned its status as a must-order, and it’s easy to see why once you taste it.

Bottarga is also known for being a social, share-friendly dining spot. The menu encourages ordering multiple dishes and tasting a bit of everything, which makes it perfect for group dining or special occasions.

What is the Experience Like at Bottarga?

The experience at Bottarga is warm, welcoming, and effortlessly polished. The staff are genuinely friendly and attentive without ever being overbearing. From the start, they were happy to offer recommendations, explain dishes, and guide us through the menu, which made ordering feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than overwhelming.

There’s a calm confidence in how the restaurant operates. Dishes arrive at a comfortable pace, allowing you to enjoy conversations between courses, and nothing feels rushed.

One of the things I loved most was the table setting. The antique-style candles and thoughtfully arranged tables add to the sense that this is a place designed for lingering. It feels ideal for a date night where you want to talk for hours, or a girls’ night out where the focus is good food and good company.

What is the Food Like at Bottarga?

Simply put, the food at Bottarga is outstanding. Every single dish we ordered was a 10/10, which is something I don’t say lightly.

We started with the bread basket, which included pita bread, grilled sourdough, and crackers (£9). This was such a good mix and absolutely worth ordering. It gave us the chance to try a bit of everything, and every piece was fresh, warm, and perfect for scooping up the dips that followed.

Next came the smoked aubergine with crispy onion (£9). This was enjoyable and full of flavour, though between the two dips we tried, I personally preferred the tarama for its smoother texture. That said, it was still a solid dish and paired beautifully with the bread selection.

The tarama with trout roe (£10) was easily my favourite of the dips. It was incredibly smooth, rich, and deeply flavoursome without being heavy. This is the kind of dish that makes you keep going back for “just one more bite” until it’s suddenly gone.

One of the standout starters of the night was the saganaki tapioca bites with sesame and thyme honey (£12). This dish is highly rated on Google reviews and was also recommended by our server, which felt like a clear sign to try it. Everyone was absolutely right, it tasted incredible. The texture was soft and chewy on the inside, coated in sesame on the outside, and finished with a drizzle of honey that added just the right amount of sweetness. It was also something I’d never seen on a menu before, which made it feel even more unique.

For the bluefin tuna with roasted red pepper and lemon (£19), I didn’t go into this dish with particularly high expectations, but it ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. The tuna quite literally melted in my mouth, and the roasted red pepper sauce worked surprisingly well with it. It wasn’t spicy at all, just deeply flavourful and beautifully balanced with the sauce.

The classic Greek salad (£18) was refreshing and expertly executed. It arrived with a block of barrel-aged feta placed on top, which the staff then broke apart and mixed into the salad right at the table. The salad itself felt crisp, fresh, and light, a perfect contrast to the richer dishes.

The confit ratte potatoes with burnt butter and roasted garlic aioli (£12) were exactly what you’d want from a comfort side dish. The potatoes were incredibly soft and paired perfectly with the aioli, which added richness without overpowering them.

For the main event, we shared the dry-aged rib eye on the bone with bone marrow stifado jus (£79). Cooked medium rare, it was juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned. It wasn’t chewy at all, and the bone marrow stifado jus, a rich, enhanced version of the traditional Greek stew added depth and richness without overwhelming the meat. It felt indulgent, satisfying, and absolutely worth it. Reminded me of gravy.

To finish, we ordered the chocolate burnt cheesecake with salted caramel chocolate (£15). The portion size was massive, which felt fitting for the price. It was definitely bigger than it looks in photos, and the texture was incredibly smooth and rich. The touch of caramel added just the right amount of sweetness, making it the perfect end to the meal.

What is the Price Like at Bottarga?

Considering the quality of the food, the experience, and the level of service, Bottarga feels incredibly well-priced. Our meal worked out to around £50–£60 per person based on what we ordered between four people, and it felt more than reasonable for the amount and quality of food we enjoyed.

This is one of those places where you truly feel like you’re getting value for money. Nothing felt overpriced, and every dish justified its cost. For a restaurant delivering this level of consistency and flavour, the pricing feels refreshingly fair.

Overview of Bottarga

The food at Bottarga is exceptional, the atmosphere is warm and intimate, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the pricing feels fair for what you’re getting. It’s been a long time since I’ve visited a place where every single dish impressed me, and Bottarga managed to do exactly that.

Whether you’re celebrating something special or simply want a memorable meal, this is a restaurant that delivers on all fronts.

I would 100% recommend reserving a table in advance, as it’s clearly a popular spot and for good reason. This is a place I would absolutely visit again and confidently recommend to anyone looking for a standout dining experience in London.

Highlights and Tips

• Atmosphere: Intimate, warm, antique-style candlelit setting
• Service: Friendly, attentive, and helpful with recommendations
• Perfect for: Date nights, girls’ nights out, special occasions
• Must-order dishes: Bluefin tuna, saganaki tapioca bites, tarama with trout roe, rib eye, chocolate burnt cheesecake with salted caramel chocolate
• Food quality: Every dish was a 10/10
• Extra touches: Coat check on arrival, table-side feta mixing
• Overall impression: Great value for money and highly recommended
• Reservation: Strongly recommended to secure a table

Bottarga Details

• Location: Near Earls Court/ Chelsea – 383 King’s Rd, London SW10 0LP
• Opening Hours: Daily from 12–3:30 pm, 6–10:30 pm
• Price: average £50 – £60 per person (based on what we ordered above between four people)

---

MORE ON MY BLOG

Explore more of my food blog

Explore more of my travel blog

---

CONNECT WITH ME ♡

♡ Instagram: @juliaxeats

♡ Tik Tok: @juliaxeats

♡ YouTube: @juliaxeats

♡ Blog: www.juliaxeats.com

Business inquiries: juliaxeats@gmail.com

---

Explore London, UK

---

More London, UK Posts

---

Tags: Bottarga London, Bottarga restaurant review, Bottarga King’s Road, Mediterranean restaurant London, Greek restaurant London, Earl’s Court restaurants, Chelsea restaurants, best restaurants King’s Road, London food blog, London restaurant review, Bottarga menu, Bottarga bluefin tuna, London date night restaurants, girls night out London, best Mediterranean food London, London dining guide, where to eat in Chelsea, intimate restaurants London, London sharing plates, Greek inspired cuisine London, London food recommendations, must try London restaurants, London fine casual dining, affordable luxury London dining, best seafood London, London restaurant atmosphere, Bottarga London prices, London restaurant reservations