There’s a hidden gem in Chiswick that I think deserves more attention and publicity, I’ve only discovered Villa di Geggiano when they “liked” some of my photos on my instagram account. As I clicked through their profile, I was immediately blown away – their fabulous outdoor seating area caught my eye. And I wondered, how have I not heard about this restaurant until now?
Chiswick is one of my favourite areas in London, the leafy suburbs feel so far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has a very “countryside” feel to it and yet when you look at the map, it’s only a few tube stops away from the centre. I have to admit that as much as I love this area, I haven’t fully explored it and I plan to change that starting now.
I met D at Villa di Geggiano for our 1pm lunch reservation and we’re immediately welcomed by a very upbeat and friendly staff as he led us to our table. I planned on having a meal at their outdoor area however, rain was in the forecast that day so just to be safe – we sat inside their lovely Dining Room.
The “Arbor Tree” stood in the centre of the room which somehow gives you an illusion that you’re dining in a secret garden. Hand-blown glass fixtures hung from the ceiling which my friend D immediately noticed and fell in love with. Tables were set far apart from each other – perfect for social distancing and a grand piano sat in the corner of the room which I believe is used during their dinner service. It exudes luxury at the same time a homey feel to it, grandiosity but not intimidating. The warm and friendly service of staff makes your whole experience seem more down-to-earth amidst the opulence that surrounds you.
They were having a lunch deal, for £21.00 per person you get a starter and a main course, add £3 more to it then you get a dessert as well. The set-lunch menu changes regularly so if you do decide to have your lunch there everyday, rest assured that you’ll be able to eat different dishes.
D and I both had Bruschetta topped with Tuscan sausage and pecorino cheese for starters. I was afraid that it would be too salty but their homemade bread did a good job to contradict it.
For our main course, D had a fillet of salmon served with sauteed vegetables which she loved. She mentioned that the vegetables had a bit of a salsa-ish taste to it which complimented the salmon well. I had papardelle pasta with bolognese ragu which was so filling, creamy and meaty. Did I mention that they do their own pasta in-house? I feel like it was the slowest I’ve eaten lunch, we both wanted to indulge in each and every bite of our dishes.
After our meal, we sat outside to have coffee but not until I was able to take photos of the other parts of the restaurants. They have a lounge adorned with fabulous artworks, comfortable seating areas and a beautiful fireplace. One can enjoy this space with a drink in hand with antipasti or you can also reserve this for private use of upto 15 guests for pre-dinner drinks.
There are also other dining areas (which I assume you can hire for private events) which feature art works of local creative talents. Art is just as important as the food in Villa di Geggiano, some nights are dedicated to poetry readings while others are dedicated to live entertainment.
There were quite a lot of diners around so I wasn’t really able to take much photos of the areas at Villa di Geggiano. Suffice to say, we enjoyed our lunch date – food was good, service was friendly and the restaurant is just beautiful. I couldn’t be any happier about this restaurant discovery, it’s definitely a place I’d love to go back to time and again.
Villa di Geggiano
66-68 Chiswick High Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1SY
Tel No: 020 3384 9442
Our total bill was £70.88 which includes a 12.5% service charge
For more information, visit their website here.
Pin it for later:
