London is teeming with cosmopolitan dining rooms, yet genuine Italian cookery remains a rare treasure. Friends of Flavours, tucked just a few minutes’ stroll from the bustle of the West End, was created to offer an unwavering commitment to traditional recipes, warm hospitality and the unmistakable comfort that only a proper trattoria delivers. Step through the terracotta-coloured doorway and you are greeted by the aroma of slowly simmering ragù, freshly torn basil and wood smoke curling out of the pizza oven—sensory cues that signal “la dolce vita” has arrived on your doorstep.
From its opening day, the restaurant’s guiding star has been authenticity. Every decision, from imported Ligurian olive oil to the hand-painted ceramic plates sourced in Siena, is designed to transport guests to a family table in Emilia-Romagna or Campania without ever leaving London. The result is a dining experience that feels both wonderfully escapist and reassuringly local.
Friends of Flavours is a proud family-run establishment, and the menu is woven together from treasured notebooks filled with Nonna’s cursive handwriting. These recipes have survived world wars, economic booms and culinary trends precisely because they focus on quality over novelty. Take the Tagliatelle al Ragù: the meat sauce cooks for five slow hours, starting with a classic soffritto of carrot, celery and onion before being enriched with British grass-fed beef, San Marzano tomatoes and a generous splash of red wine. No shortcuts, no sachets—just time, patience and the gentle clatter of wooden spoons on copper pans.
Pasta dough is rolled at dawn in the dedicated laboratorio at the back of the dining room. The team uses a blend of Caputo “00” flour and free-range Burford Brown eggs to achieve silkiness in tagliatelle, springiness in pappardelle and delicate bite in the restaurant’s celebrated Lasagna Verde sheets. By midday, those same sheets are layered with béchamel and ragù, then baked until the top blisters into a mosaic of bronze and emerald.
Elsewhere, plump prawns arrive daily from Cornwall, ready to be transformed into Gamberoni Fritti; basil leaves are macerated for pesto within an hour of being delivered; and the pizza dough ferments for a full 48 hours before meeting the wood fire. This relentless focus on freshness is not marketing rhetoric but the lifeblood of the kitchen.
Gamberoni Fritti – Lightly dusted in semolina, wild red prawns are flash-fried until crisp, then finished with Amalfi lemon zest and a whisper of Calabrian chilli. The contrast between sweet flesh and citrus spark makes this the ultimate start to any meal.
Lasagna Verde – A homage to Bologna’s most beloved bake, Friends of Flavours uses spinach-tinted pasta sheets for colour and flavour. Each slice reveals disciplined layering: slow-cooked beef ragù, nutmeg-flecked béchamel and a snowfall of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano. Many regulars order a portion to take home for the next day’s lunch—proof of its cult status.
Burrata con Carciofi – Cream-filled burrata from Puglia sits atop chargrilled artichoke hearts, drizzled with peppery Umbrian olive oil and finished with a handful of mint leaves. The dish captures the Italian talent for turning a few impeccable ingredients into something unforgettable.
Friends of Flavours embraces a “best of both worlds” philosophy: Italian know-how married to British produce. Ninety per cent of the vegetables come from Kent farms practising regenerative agriculture, while day-boat fish arrives directly from Brixham to minimise carbon miles. The kitchen composts coffee grounds for a local community garden and bottles its house limoncello in reclaimed glass. These small gestures accumulate into a dining experience that tastes good and feels responsible.
The team also runs monthly pasta-making workshops for nearby primary schools, introducing children to the joy of rolling dough and the importance of thoughtful food sourcing. By nurturing the next generation of cooks and eaters, the restaurant reinforces its place as more than a commercial venture; it is a neighbourhood institution.
Décor matters as much as dishes when evoking an authentic Italian mood. Terra cotta tiles meet walnut panelling; vintage Neapolitan film posters share wall space with sepia family photographs. At weekends, soft jazz floats from a vintage vinyl player until the first tiramisu leaves the pass and the room erupts in appreciative murmurs. Speaking of dolci, do not miss the Pistachio Gelato, churned in-house and crowned with a drizzle of Bronte pistachio paste. It is nostalgia and novelty in a single spoonful.
Friends of Flavours is open Tuesday to Sunday from noon until 10.30 pm, with the kitchen taking a well-earned pausa between 3 pm and 5 pm. The set lunch menu (£24 for two courses, £29 for three) is a savvy way to sample highlights like Crocchè Napoletane and Calamarata al Pomodoro without overstretching the wallet. Evenings are popular, so booking ahead is recommended; reservations can be made online or by telephone. Walk-ins are welcomed at the marble-topped bar, ideal for an impromptu glass of Verdicchio and a plate of antipasti.
Located just off Bloomsbury’s tree-lined squares, the restaurant is easily reached via the Northern and Central lines. On warm nights, a handful of alfresco tables spill onto the pavement, perfect for watching London life glide past while savouring a slice of wood-fired Margherita di Bufala.
In a city where culinary trends shift as quickly as the skyline, Friends of Flavours is an anchoring presence. The kitchen’s refusal to compromise on time-honoured technique, paired with a devotion to fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients, gifts diners an experience that feels both luxurious and comfortingly familiar. Whether you crave the layered opulence of Lasagna Verde, the bracing simplicity of Burrata con Carciofi, or simply the pleasure of tearing into bread still warm from the oven, this is a restaurant that celebrates Italy’s greatest hits with sincerity and flair. Next time the desire for authentic flavours strikes, let Friends of Flavours remind you why classic recipes, made fresh, never go out of style.
Embark on a culinary journey that transcends the ordinary. At Friends of Flavours, every dish is a testament to our passion for the quintessence of Italian cuisine. From the expert hands of our experienced chefs to your table, we invite you to indulge in a dining experience that celebrates the rich tapestry of Italy's gastronomic heritage. Nestled in the heart of Penge, London, our award-winning restaurant awaits to enchant your senses and elevate your dining moments. Don't just take our word for it; come and discover why we are a Diner's Choice Award recipient. Book a table today and let Angelo Gobbi and his team at Friends of Flavours craft an unforgettable Italian feast for you and your friends.