Giorgio Locatelli’s new restaurant at the National Gallery in London offers a dining experience that rivals the art on display. Located in the Sainsbury Wing, the venue is a partnership with catering company Searcys, known for managing high-footfall spots like the Gherkin and the Barbican. The menu, overseen by head chef Imma Savinelli, features fresh pasta dishes such as red gurnard with pappardelle and handmade braised veal tortellini, alongside a standout vegan option of baked aubergine with soy ricotta.
The restaurant’s ambience, with pistachio-coloured velour banquettes and a dessert trolley serving tiramisu, provides a welcome escape from the summer crowds of school trips. A horseshoe bar offers cocktails like gin sours and breakfast martinis. While the contorni selection is limited, the lunch menu is far more adventurous than typical museum fare, with highlights including fritto misto and a potato-and-rosemary sourdough loaf.
Service is attentive and well-meaning, even if some staff are new to the industry. The dessert trolley’s Sicilian lemon tart was disappointing, but the chantilly cream buns from Bar Giorgio are a worthwhile indulgence. Overall, Locatelli at the National Gallery succeeds in creating a unique dining destination that complements the gallery’s masterpieces.
