A stroll around Marylebone tells you one thing: there’s no shortage of enchanting little restaurants in this part of London. They tend to be laid-back, confident in their own version of fancy, and rarely big names (except the occasional Gail’s, which we can’t ever seem to escape).
The area feels like an antiques market for food and drink gems – places you’re unlikely to see splashed across a Secret London reel, but which would be foolish to miss.
One such spot is The Italian Greyhound, just two turns away from Marble Arch station. This winter, the Italian restaurant – sister to The Broadcaster in White City and The Lighterman in King’s Cross – has introduced a Winter Aperitivo menu with a few festive specials, and we paid it a visit to try the new additions.
The setting: Italian-ish comfort
Although Italian by menu, the space itself bears little resemblance to a traditional Italian trattoria. There are no closely packed dark-wood tables, no askew paper or fabric tablecloths, and none of that somewhat irksome but equally comforting hum of a chaotic Italian kitchen.
Instead, this is a decidedly civilised setting. Beige and pale green undertones create a soft, muted backdrop, offset by camel leather upholstery and light wood throughout. The lighting is low, anchored by strikingly modern chandeliers – all clean lines and no drama.
Does it feel Italian? Absolutely not. But it does feel like the sort of place you’d happily sink into for two unhurried hours, nursing a Winter Negroni (more on that later) while catching up with a friend, a date, or a family member. It works well for groups too – not so quiet that you can hear your own thoughts, but never so boisterous that you need to shout across the table. At least at 6pm on a Tuesday, when we visited. It may get louder as the evening unfolds.
The food and drinks: our review
Unlike the setting, the menu is unmistakably Italian. We were told that the ingredients change every three to four months in line with the seasons, and that everything is sourced from Italian producers. Instantly, expectations rose. Anyone who’s spent time in southern Europe (even if on a TUI all-inclusive) knows there’s an English tomato and an Italian tomato, and they’re in entirely different leagues.
Starters
To start, we ordered the porcini and gorgonzola arancini, which arrived blisteringly hot: four generously sized spheres, crisp on the outside and giving way to a molten, creamy gorgonzola centre, finished with a light scattering of grated mozzarella.
Alongside it came the burrata, nestled into a bed of pillowy walnut pesto, with half a fig on the side and topped with a crisp parmesan tuile. There’s something deeply satisfying about slicing open the majestic burrata (most of us can admit to doing it in slow motion, just to prolong the joy), but this was a burrata dressed for the occasion (and season) – packed with rich, warming flavours.
The only drawback was a slight lack of salt (that humble, often underestimated ingredient), though it was easily corrected with a turn of the salt mill.
Mains
For mains, we chose the cacio e pepe tortellini, finished with generous shavings of black truffle scattered across the top. It was indulgent, cheesy (as you can imagine – those raviolis were packed!) but never so heavy that you need a lie-down and a glass of water afterward – a rare feat for a cheese-forward pasta.
We also tried the figs, gorgonzola, rosemary and honey pizza. While there was a moment of disappointment that the crust wasn’t sourdough, the balance of ingredients did make up for it. The rosemary, unexpectedly, was the star -something we never thought we would say outside the context of a Sunday roast. Top tip: fold your slice slightly and trap a piece of fig in the middle. You’ll have a genuinely stunning bite.
The menu is genuinely vegetarian-friendly (and we don’t say that lightly), but there’s plenty for meat-lovers too – from chicken Milanese and osso buco to a Galloway ribeye.
And because The Italian Greyhound clearly wasn’t holding back, we ended with the tiramisu. Whenever I spot tiramisu on a menu, I instinctively stiffen — I’ve eaten enough of them to be wary of yet another indistinct blob of sponge and cream, dusted with cocoa and little else. This, however, was light and airy, well-balanced, and layered with just the right amount of pistachio cream. A generous portion too.
Drinks
The cocktail list is restrained: classic Italian cocktails, subtle twists on traditional recipes, and a handful of seasonal specials for Winter Aperitivo. As a Negroni loyalist, my heart raced for the Winter Negroni, which swaps the usual dry gin for sloe gin, and delivered exactly what I wanted: rich, velvety and warming. We also tried the Amaretto Sour (amaretto, lemon, and Campari), which was a refreshing contrast. We could have easily made The Italian Greyhound our home, sink back comfortably, and work our way through the entire menu.
Verdict
The Italian Greyhound won’t blow you away, but it does everything right. The dishes are thoughtfully put together, the cocktails are deftly executed, and the space is composed and inviting – a place where you can linger comfortably for a few hours. Worth a visit just for the Winter Negroni, in my (perhaps a little biased) opinion.
Key details
Address: 62 Seymour Street, London, W1H 5BN
Opening times: Mon-Sat 12pm – 11pm. Sundays 12pm – 10:30pm
Website: theitaliangreyhound.co.uk
Where to book: sevenrooms.com
Instagram: @greyhoundmarylebone
See also:
Here are London’s best spots to eat, drink, and be merry this Christmas
Inside Yuletide Yard: Flat Iron Square’s huge new Christmas takeover
Review – Inca’s Christmas menus are festive, flavourful, and full of theatre