Tags
Zafferano
15 Lowndes Street
Knightsbridge London
SW1X 9EY
Tel: 020 7235 5800
Food type: Italian
Food rating: 5/10
Nearest tube: Knightsbridge
Website: Zafferano
Note: This meal was back when Andy Needham (now cooking at L’amoroso) was cooking here. He subsequently left when Zafferano lost their star.
Since its opening in 1995, Zafferano has often been touted as the best Italian restaurants in London. Headed by celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli, Zafferano was quick to win many accolades including the prized Michelin star. The restaurant is also a bit of a celebrity haunt with stars like Madonna and Guy Ritchie amongst their patrons. While Locatelli soon moved on in 1999 and subsequently opened the eponymous Locanda Locatelli, Zafferano were kept in good hands under the steady guidance of Andrew Needham who has maintained their star since.
Andy Needham’s experience including working at the 3 Michelin star restaurant Le Pre Catalan, La Cinzianella (incidentally under Giorgio’s father) and finally as Giorgio’s second in command at Zafferano. His style of cooking is embodied by his undying passion to source the best local and foreign produce. Rumour has it that Needham has contacts from Paris, Milan and Bologna who emails him photographs of the daily produce for him to cherry pick and flown in twice a week. Talk about wanting only the best produce!