Il Sorriso

Franco Garziano broke with family tradition by refusing to train as a cabinet maker and chose to become a culinary expert instead; and, after years of learning under Italian master chefs and managing restaurants, he, jointly with Angelo Formaggi, opened Il Sorriso, a quaint Italian restaurant at London's West End. Taking its name, meaning smile, rather literally, the restaurant has been making diners do that for over twenty years now.

When an enterprise is born out of such driving passion, it is bound to excel in all aspects, and if the tasty fare that is created there is any measure of success, it is a very wide smile indeed. What sets Il Sorriso apart from the number of other Italian restaurants is the desire to please, whether it is Franco personally talking calls to explain the day's menu in detail or offering to grill the tuna rather than pan fry it if a diner prefers it that way even right down to the seasonal specialities, like truffle risotto cooked at the diner's table, they go a long way in making diners happy.

An unusual starter of closed cup mushrooms filled with bread, tarragon, onion, egg, rice flour, cream sauce and tomato is a great beginning to a meal, as is the Parma ham on thick slices of Gallia melon. These set the tone for the mains which are well prepared and presented. Try the ribbon of fresh egg pasta cooked in water and fish stock, sautéed with crispy smoked salmon, butter, a touch of tomato sauce and cream or the sliced baby artichokes grilled with escallops enriched with saffron, butter, white wine and a hint of garlic and olive oil .The veal and fish options or the rich creamy chicken with a dash of chillies and saffron are attractive alternatives.

Il Sorriso boasts of an extensive wine list as the owners, connoisseurs of fine wine, are happy to help order the perfect wine to accompany a meal. Go ahead, have a meal at Il Sorriso and break into a smile.