Review on Fucina
Kurt Zdesar is a respected name in the restaurant industry, a former director of Nobu and founder of the Ping Pong chain which he sold in 2007, he has opened a third venue an Italian restaurant called Fucina in Marylebone. Located just a short walk from Baker Street underground and attractions such as Madame Tussauds, it has older siblings Japanese Chotto Matte in Soho and poke bar Black Roe in Mayfair.
Set over two floors, it's a beautifully sculptured restaurant designed by Andy Martin Architecture, and it's no surprise that it picked up the Best London Restaurant and Best UK Restaurant at the 2017 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. A dynamic feature is the undulating ceiling constructed of antico mattoni to reflect the warped like inside of a pizza oven, while the street is screened with lovely handmade coloured glass and steel floor-to-ceiling screens. Utilising brick, marble and timber in the design, burnt steel is dominant, reflecting the restaurant's name Fucina meaning forge. Bespoke furniture and mint green banquettes take inspiration from the tree in the restaurant. The lower ground floor has a chef's table seating 12, with a seven-metre-high walk in wine room and a floor to ceiling glass wall, allowing guests to watch all the action in the kitchen with its wood-fired pit.
The kitchen showcases impeccable organic ingredients to produce a menu where everything is made in house, along the lines of calamaro fritto served with lemon and chilli mayonnaise. Follow on with charred quail, caramelised apple and charred dandelion with a hint of miso, or green ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach and walnut parmesan sauce. Elsewhere there's a truffle pizza with trompette mushrooms, shaved mozzarella and fresh truffles or for those who have a preference for fish there's whole wild sea bass with sea salt, olive oil and lemon. The menu signs off with desserts like rum pannacotta with pistachio and black berries or a flourless chocolate cake served with ice cream.
There's an extensive wine list to complement the dishes and a well-crafted cocktail menu.
Fucina is also featured in: Hardens
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Italian
Chef
Jordan Sclare and Pasquale Amico
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 through until
Dinner: 11.00pm (10.00pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express