Terra Terra in Finchley Road has just opened its doors and it calls itself a neighbourhood Italian all day Restaurant & Café. I went to the opening party to see whether it was a jack of all trades or a restaurant that genuinely offers it all. The tables and chairs had temporarily been removed to make way for the DJ booth and the array of people that had come to celebrate the night, and make the most of the prosecco on offer.
D Js Ben Bridgewater and Dan Lywood
D J Lady Mary Charteris
The head chef Massimo Miolo has shaped the menu by seeking inspiration from his childhood in Italy. Inspired by Florence and Bologna’s food markets, the menu infuses new and old recipes along with traditional and modern cooking techniques. The result being exciting yet simple Italian dishes.
Set over two floors, it has the space to cater for most occasions. Diners can expect to be seated at street level whilst those looking to sample the thoughtfully chosen Italian wines and uniquely tweaked classic cocktails will descend to the lower ground wine bar. When summer returns, visitors can also enjoy the tucked away terrace hidden from the bustle of Finchley Road – a perfect place for a drink or two.
On opening night the bubbles flowed whilst a number of DJs kept the stylish “Insta” crowd swaying from one side of the room to the other. I on the other hand had my eyes on the platters of exquisitely filled fresh pasta shells decorated with an artistic scattering of edible flowers and swirls of fragrant dressings. I chatted with the chefs as they prepared fresh pizza style breads topped with wild mushrooms and watched as they baked them in their impressive stone oven. It was worth the wait.
image courtesy of Joshua Edwards
On a normal day you can expect a small but well-balanced menu with fresh pastas, pizzas and small plates on offer. And for the commuters there is a breakfast menu you would expect to see in any stylish London café, a variety of egg dishes, granola and freshly made smoothies.
Like the menu, the interior mixes new with old. The walls and the colours instantly remind you of a Tuscan kitchen but the overall effect is a modern and sophisticated space with soft lighting and square hanging ceiling panels.
Finchley Road is not graced with an abundance of bars and restaurants that offer something different. Terra Terra certainly is a great addition that looks like it can offer it all.
Photography: Richard Young
To book a table at Terra Terra, Reservations: terraterra.co.uk, opentable.co.uk
Phone: 020 8912 6320
The address is: 120 Finchley Road, London NW3 5JB
The social media handles and hashtags are: @terraterrauk and #terraterratime