Review on Mediterranea
Effisio Fronteddu (one-time manager of Olivo) has moved to pastures new and set up this family-run restaurant in the outer regions of Crystal Palace. The place itself doesn't have much in the way of decor, but locals (and other from further afield) have quickly taken to the place.
There's are strong Sardinian slant to the menu, although it dips its toes into all corners of the Mediterranean. To start, you might see grilled fennel wedges with Pecorino cheese dressing or warm octopus with chickpeas, tomato and basil, while main courses could range from malluredos (homemade durum pasta) with tomato and sausage sauce to grilled pork loin with borlotti beans, home-cured pancetta and wild boar salame.
Fish is procured twice weekly from Billingsgate, and it's worth asking about the piscine specials (poached fillet of sea bream with stuffed vine leaves, for example). To finish, go for something sweet such as baked Ricotta cheesecake doused in mint syrup or almond and hazelnut cream with cinnamon-spiced dried fruits and rosewater. Don't leave without trying the authentic Sardinian ewe's milk cheeses served with carasau (traditional flatbread).
Cuisine
Mediterranean / Sardinian
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.30pm (12.00 - 3.30pm Sat)
Dinner: 6.00 - 10.00pm Mon-Thu (6.00 - 11.00pm Fri & Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card