Aftab is one of my favourite blogging friends and he was one of the last people I saw before lockdown. It had been a while since we had a proper catch-up so when Harry’s Dolce Vita invited me to review their new cocktails and summer menu I figured it was the perfect opportunity to have a natter and reminisce about our trip to Finland a year ago! Oh, how times have changed.
I’ve been to Harry’s a few times in the past (visits I paid for myself) and it’s one of my favourite local restaurants so I knew we would have a relaxed stress-free evening with incredible food in a beautiful setting.
Italian Elegance in Knightsbridge
Harry’s Dolce Vita is an Italian all-day dining restaurant on Basil Street in Knightsbridge, and as I live in Parsons Green which is a short 10-15 minute drive from Harry’s, it’s a nice easy journey in this pandemic-era.
Exuding stylish décor, serving seasonal Italian plates, and offering all the elegance and glamour of 1950’s Italy, Harry’s Dolce Vita is a nod to the namesake Harry’s Bar in Mayfair. Over the summer they had a beautiful Vespa floral display at the front of the restaurant, and we were lucky enough to see it just before it retired for the season!
The Menu at Harry’s Dolce Vita
The menu at Harry’s Dolce Vita features Italian classics from Chef Director Simon Gregory. Italian elegance weaves its way into the Harry’s Dolce Vita drinks list in the form a grappa trolley, which circles the room offering diners an aperitif or digestif.
In addition to the trolley, a list of great Italian wines, and classic cocktails with a “Dolce Vita” twist are also available. However we were visiting Harry’s Dolce Vita to test out their fancy new cocktail menu, with each cocktail made with the super-premium Italian gin, O’ndina.
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Cocktails at Harry’s Dolce Vita
We settled into our seat by the window – perfect for people-watching – and began the evening with Basilica Sour (O’ndina Gin, Grand Marnier, lime, egg white and basil) and the Lavender Sunset (O’ndina Gin, Lavanda syrup, Bottega Rose Gold and lemon).
I absolutely adored the Basilica Sour which was the perfect combination of sour and refreshing, and Aftab loved his Lavender Sunset. Sat in the elegant surroundings of Harry’s deep in discussion of our latest life events, we could easily have been on the Italian Riviera rather than in drizzly London.
The Food at Harry’s Dolce Vita
Soon our starters of Burrata with 24-month prosciutto and the Caprese Salad arrived, and were perfect for accompanying the cocktails.
I then chose the incredible Lemon sole fillet served with a Gavi Di Gavi wine sauce with clams, samphire, parsley & Amalfi lemon. On the side I opted for tenderstem broccoli and a tomato & basil salad, which are my two favourite sides that I get every time!
Aftab chose the Pappardelle al Ragu Bolognese, which I had *major* food envy of! It’s his favourite Italian dish and it looked so delicious.
For dessert we decided to share the famous Harry’s Toadstool, which is made of white chocolate, fresh raspberries, mascarpone mousse, iced vanilla parfait and pistachio biscotti crunch served with warm pistachio sauce.
If you’re missing travelling overseas and in desperate need of a little pick-me-up and glimmer of travel like we were, you need to go to Harry’s Dolce Vita!
*Our meal was complimentary, however I’ve genuinely visited many times on my own dime as I love it so much.
Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of SEO at Havas Media Group by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.
