Melanzana

Excellent food and very friendly atmosphere. Staff are very nice and as said before, the food is really fantastic.

I went to Melanzana about a week ago and I'm definitely going back soon. Delicious food, nice wine and very friendly service.

This place inspried me to write a pretty long review!

I’d heard about Melanza from my mum who stays with a friend around the corner. I think they ‘almost’ ate there one night – you know, those times you walk past a restaurant and really wish you were hungry but unfortunately all you can manage is a peppermint tea or something, as you’d walked the other way that night and stopped somewhere else.

Battersea Square isn’t exactly a square and, it has to be said, in a city teeming with cute streets and leafy squares, there are more desirable locations that are easier on the eye but Battersea Square has something special. With a nice collection of bars and restaurants, it’s something of a hidden gem – for example I love Barrio, a fantastic Latin bar with sister venues up in Angel and Soho.

Anyway, I digress, I guess my mum’s comment stuck and I found myself wandering in with my husband on a quiet and overcast Monday afternoon. The menu wasn’t available – it was that awkward hour between 4-6pm when most places are closed – but anything from the counter was there for our consumption. Don’t worry, we went back very soon after for an amazing dinner.

Trying to keep my gaze from the distraction of shelves heaving with the sort of Italian groceries that my flatmate (who’s from Sicily) regularly flies home to stock up on, I focussed on the array of delicious offerings.
A cheerful member of staff was immediately warm and friendly and was very helpful in recommending dishes.

Lasagne was a given – it was over 3 inches high and looked amazing. Pizza slices, why not? Pizza isn’t something I generally enjoy but these looked mouthwatering. The manager had just finished his lunch of sea bream with all manner of vegetables julienne style tossed in a light vinaigrette, well if it was good enough for him it was good enough from me. A few extras such as mozzarella & tomatoes wrapped in courgette, olives, bread and butter topped off the order and we sat down.

The venue has a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere, a couple of tables were occupied and the odd person popped in to book a table for that evening. With large windows, Melanza offers a bright and fresh space that would suit any time of the day for a coffee, snack or meal.

The food arrived at an enjoyable pace, the pizza was that great balance of tasty, doughy bread that was crispy on the outer edges, with A fantastic balance of flavours with no single, overpowering taste. The quality of the cheese and the bread was obvious, as was the freshness of the toppings. These guys know their stuff.

My lunch arrived, I think it was the first time I’d ordered Sea Bream in a restaurant and I was thoroughly impressed. My meal was a success through and through – the Julienne vegetables were perfectly cooked and seasoned and the fish was a delicate flavour that worked well with the vegetables. Also, the added extras were a great addition, especially the courgette rolls.

The smell of melted cheese announced the arrival of the lasagne. A masterpiece. Bubbling slightly at the edges and looking imposing enough in its bowl to satisfy any hungry stomach. Deliciously gooey, but not in that mushy pasta sort of way, the lasagne was a sensation. The friendly waiter served us a mountain of parmesan (great to have a venue with such fantastic products who don’t withhold them from guests – there’s nothing worse than a tiny smattering of parmesan on your pasta and having to ask your waiter “please sir, can I have some more’!

Anyway, back to one of the best lasagne I have ever tasted. I’d be inclined to say it was the best I’ve ever had but I fear my mum would be upset – she makes a darn good lasagne – in fact, scrap that – this definitely is the winner. Sorry mum!
I used to wish that I had a box of chocolates an that each time I chose a chocolate from the box it would be replaced the next time I opened the box. Well I wished this lasagne would never end and that I would never be replete and that I’d be able to continue eating it day and night.

I’d love to have had space for a coffee but viewed it as an excuse to go back again – which we did (we returned for dinner shortly afterwards and I am happy to report that their coffee is delicious, as is their dinner menu). I now have further excuses up my sleeve – I need to try the quiche, I need to try the set lunch, then there’s the wine list to be explored,…the possibilities are endless. In fact, if you come by yourself, there’s a high chance you’ll find me at a table looking for something I’ve yet to try on the menu!

Amazing place but be careful it’s now getting very busy in the evenings so you will probably need to book

The most amazing Italian food I've had in London! The tuna tartare is astonishing (but don't leave the salad - rocket & caramelised onion with a hint of ginger!!!) but so was the swordfish, the veal, the pasta, the panna cotta, the coffee...
I don't know how you could go wrong!

Yet again me and my boyfriend had a lovely evening there last night. Just delicious. The food is wonderfully fresh, great pasta and reasonably priced good wine. The lovely waitress, Mary/ Marie, seemed to bend over backwards for us. Super to have such an easy, relaxed restaurant with good food in a perfect location for us.

The first time I visited this restaurant I really enjoyed my pasta meal. However, a week later the experience was nothing like as good.

My friend and I waited for half an hour for our meal which was described as chicken in truffle oil with chips. When it eventually arrived neither of us could taste the truffle oil and the chips were sliced potatoes.

Although other guests were supplied with bread we were not, neither were we warned that the meal would take so long to arrive. 20 minutes after placing the order we asked why it was taking so long we were told that everything is cooked freshly (which is no more than we would expect). We asked why this had not been stated upfront to give us the opportunity to order a starter. The question was met with indifference.

This has gone from being a restaurant we would visit regularly to one we won't visit again.

Delicious food, nice surroundings, good service. Well priced too...

The takeaway pizza is great.

Very nice experience in Battersea Square, I was very pleased with the quality of the nice Italian food and the atmosphere, the staff were all happy and friendly, they made us feel very comfortable. We will repeat very soon!

Highly recommended. Great atmosphere. A party of 6 of us went for a weekend lunch a week after it's opening. All the tables were full and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal. We all certainly did. We met people who were there for their 3rd visit. The staff are efficient and friendly. The deli and take-away, which have a good selection of tasty looking Italian food, were also doing a good trade.

There is finally a place to hang out in Battersea Square where you can get a great Caffe Latte and a home cooked meal.

After, having my delicious Pizza and a glass of a reasonably priced house red, I was tempted by the Delicatessen counter.

I wound up buying my dinner for that evening. Their stuffed courgettes and meatballs was very yummy. I even bought a delicious loaf of bread and some olives, too.

Lucio and Jimmy are back on the square with a new partner Paolo.

They had previously been across the road now a Dry Cleaners with a small deli cafe but now have created a Deli , Cafe and Tratoria that serves simple mainly southern Italian cuccina casalinga .

Even though Melanzana opened yesterday I was able to enjoy an excellent plate of pasta a la Norma (Rigatoni with aubergine , tomato and garlic sauce ith Sicilian Ricotta).

The daily changing menu is availble to eat in or take away.

The deli counter has a wide range of salumi , hams and cheeses and there is excellent bread and small selection of vegatables.

It's also great to be able to get a decent espresso as the other places on Battersea Square have coffee which frankly is as bad as their food.

Melanzana is a much needed addition to the Battersea Square area that is open for breakfast through to dinner .