What: A second iteration of causal Italian concept Maria G's, which launched its first site earlier this year in London's Kensington. As with the group's first site, Maria G's Fulham is housed within a new residential development and is primarily pitched at local residents. Overlooking the river, it's a much larger space than the original Kensington restaurant, and features a greater focus on seafood with a raw bar built in the centre of the dining room.
Who: Maria G's is being led by Robin Gill and executive chef Aaron Potter, in partnership with Pete Warden of LXA Hospitality. Gill’s career began in some of Europe’s best restaurants, from Marco Pierre White’s three Michelin-starred The Oak Room, to two Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 on the Amalfi Coast. Maria G's takes inspiration from chef’s time working in the south of Italy and his love for a particular fishing village, Marina Del Cantone, which he visits regularly with his family.
The food: Gill and Potter have created a substantially new menu for Maria G’s Fulham that puts seafood front and centre, much of which is supplied by The Sea, The Sea. Dishes on the regularly-changing raw bar menu can be ordered individually or all together as one seafood platter and include the likes of: hand dived scallop crudo with green mandarin, chilli and coriander; razor clams dressed in gremolata; citrus-cured chalk stream trout; and oysters soured directly from Connemara in the West coast of Ireland. As with the Kensington restaurant, the wider menu is split between cicchetti and antipasti dishes, primi pasta options, larger secondi plates, and dolce. New dishes include a seafood fritto misto; mussels al forno – mussels baked in the half shell with garlic and herb butter; and baked chocolate and piedmont hazelnut pannettone with vanilla gelato. Signature dishes to crossover from the first restaurant, meanwhile, include the aged parmesan fries; sage and anchovy fritti; and Florentine steak with chicory, gorgonzola and aged balsamic. Prices are also pitched similarly to the Kensington site, with starters ranging from £5 to £10, pastas between £15 and £20, and larger plates between £25 and £35.
The drink: The drinks list features predominantly Italian wine from producers from around the country, alongside select bottles from France, Spain, Portugal, and England’s Hattingley Valley in Hampshire. A range of spritzes, highballs, and other classic Italian cocktails also features. They include a ‘Fico Sbagliato’ – caramelised peach Amaro with fig infused Vermouth, topped with prosecco; and the ‘Pomelo Cobbler’ – fino sherry, pampelle, grapefruit sherbet and pomelo soda.
The vibe: The large dining room opens out on to a 45-cover outdoor terrace by the river Thames, which features a retractable roof which can be fully open in summer or closed and heated for the colder months. Interior design features include an open kitchen with a marble dining counter and leather seats, plus a bank of cosy cream coloured booths.
And another thing: The launch of Maria G's Fulham tops off a busy year for the ever-prolific Gill. As well as two Maria G's restaurants, he's also opened natural wine bar Bottle & Rye in Brixton Village.
Unit 4, 20 Central Ave, London SW6 2QE