East Molesey, Italian Restaurant Guide

“Wonderful family-run neighbourhood Italian restaurant serving out-of-the-ordinary sophisticated cooking”, near Richmond Bridge in St Margaret’s (close enough to Twickenham to offer special lunches on Six Nations days). Chef Tom Rowlandson and his wife Jade have been at the helm since 2019. Top Tip – “try to get a window table”.

There’s just one option at this Richmond stalwart from chef patron Riccardo Grigolo – a full-on blow out! – as he guides his guests through a multi-course Venetian wedding feast. It’s “the best place I know for a family celebration”, “just lovely, with good food and an exceptional ambience”… a view shared by US actor and fan Stanley Tucci, who lives nearby.

“A favourite in Richmond” – this “always very friendly stalwart” offers “efficient service” and a “fairly standard Italian menu” – which makes it “a useful pre-theatre choice, next door to the Orange Tree Theatre and a less than five minutes’ walk from Richmond Theatre”.

This quartet of modern pasta joints offer “high-quality ingredients” and staff who “make you feel very welcome”. But the cooking divides opinion sharply, with some reporters praising “good, unpretentious” cooking “at a fair price” and others complaining of “tiny, overpriced helpings – avoid!”. A more nuanced judgement: “good but could be so much better – menu had some great options but everything seemed overpowered with butter/oil”.