Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 7th October 2010
Tempo
Mayfair Italian with a difference
54 Curzon Street, W1J 8PG - 020 7629 2742
www.tempomayfair.co.uk
Location
One of my favourite stretches in Mayfair, Curzon Street oozes character not least due to having the colourful Shepherd Market in its midsts. It’s also one of the best places for insider gossip on London’s wealthiest movers and shakers as it’s where the city’s chauffeurs stop for fag breaks.
Vibe
London seems to be overflowing with contemporary Italians these days but Tempo stands out for two reasons: the owner, former hotelier Henry Togna, is so passionate about his new venture he has a tendency to approach diners himself to check up on them and make recommendations, and the chef, Yoshi Yamada, is Japanese.
Flavours
The menu is a wish-list of Italian favourites, from beef carpaccio with hazelnuts to tortelli pasta with wild rabbit, and pork belly with olive oil mash and girolles to a very fine lemon tart, all deftly constructed by Yamada. The ingredients are undeniably fresh and beautifully presented, and could taste even better in some cases if he went a little heavier with the seasoning.
Décor
The only area where Tempo seems to struggle slightly is that it can’t quite decide whether it’s posh or laidback. The ground floor restaurant is smart and simple while the upstairs bar (that does a mean house bellini) and private dining room (with room for 24) are quite a bit plusher.
Upshot
Tempo’s heart is in the right place and for the next week or so the reasonable prices are made even more appealing by the inclusion of their London Restaurant Festival Menu which comes in at £21.50 for three courses. There’s still plenty of time for Tempo to really make its mark.
