4 /5 Mohammed Haroon Munir: I visited Bottarga in Chelsea on Friday lunchtime with a group to celebrate my sister’s birthday. From the moment you step inside, the space feels effortlessly chic. The décor is polished and refined, with tasteful artwork that complements the atmosphere beautifully. That said, the toilets were a slight let down. The stainless steel finish felt stark and oddly institutional, giving off more prison than polished restaurant, and could certainly benefit from a refresh.
Service, however, was a real highlight. Our main server, Olivia, was exceptional. Warm, attentive, and genuinely knowledgeable, she struck that perfect balance between professionalism and approachability. Her recommendations were thoughtful and well explained, and it truly felt like we were in very capable hands throughout the meal.
I arrived with high expectations. Bottarga has been on my radar for quite some time, and I had heard consistently good things, so anticipation was high.
The menu lends itself beautifully to sharing, which worked perfectly for our group. We began with the aubergine and tzatziki dips served with pitta bread. While the dips themselves had depth and good flavour, the pitta bread was unfortunately not homemade, which felt like a missed opportunity. Overall, these starters were pleasant but not particularly memorable. I felt similarly about the bluefin tuna. Well executed, but not something that truly stood out.
The courgette fritters with smoked garlic sauce and the saganaki bites, on the other hand, were excellent. Crisp, indulgent, and full of flavour, they were easily the highlights of the starters and dishes I would happily order again.
The orzo was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit and was highly anticipated. It was good, comforting, and well balanced, but again did not quite deliver the wow factor I was hoping for. That said, the lamb belly and baby chicken that followed were both thoroughly enjoyable. Each had a beautiful char from the barbecue, with deep, smoky flavour and excellent seasoning. These dishes felt confident and satisfying.
We finished with the sharing cheesecake, which felt almost criminal to skip. It was rich, creamy, and perfectly suited for sharing, a solid and comforting end to the meal.
A particularly lovely touch was the effort made for my sister’s birthday. She was given a card, and a candle was placed in the cake, which added a thoughtful and personal element to the experience.
Overall, we enjoyed our meal. It is undeniably on the expensive side, but that is to be expected given the Chelsea location and the brand itself. While I would recommend Bottarga, especially for groups looking to share plates in a stylish setting, I personally would not rush back. That said, I would be very interested in visiting the other restaurants within the same restaurant group.
A good dining experience, well executed, with moments of excellence, even if it did not quite live up to the very high expectations I arrived with.
