WITH my most recent holiday to Sicily still fresh on my mind – and palette – I leapt at the opportunity to visit Harry’s Bar, an Italian restaurant in James St, which is known for their hearty and comforting authentic Italian dishes and exquisite interior design. Mirroring the menu of its sister restaurant, Harry’s Dolce Vita, which has received critical acclaim, Harry’s Bar offers the same traditional and unfussy Italian dishes but on a more intimate scale.
Located in the heart of central London, Harry’s Bar has embraced the busy and vibrant city in its stride, with outside seating, Instagram photo initiatives for the public passing by, and crucially, the option of a bar, as well as a restaurant.
Harry’s Bar James Street Restaurant by John Carey
Harry’s Bar James Street Restaurant by John Carey
It’s not just the outside lure of the restaurant that tickles passers by’s fancy, but the smells too. Arriving on a warm summer evening provided a glimpse of Harry’s Bar operating at its best. With floral decorations adorning the exterior, a reference to the Ifiorata festival of Noto, the city I had just visited in Sicily, and a wealth of guests sat outside enjoying the exclusive cocktails Harry’s Bar had handcrafted to celebrate the special occasion, I found it hard reminding myself that I was, in fact, in London.
As we took our seats in the warm, plush, fifties-inspired leather seats, a glance at the menu reconfirmed our hungry anticipation for the upcoming slice of authentic Italy. For starters, we enjoyed Insalata Caprese, a wonderfully simplistic medley of buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil leaves, as well as Harry’s Tagliolini – their best seller on the menu – which was a divine combination of gratinated tagliolini pasta with truffle, parmesan, and cream. Effortlessly more-ish and enough to keep you dreaming of it for weeks.
Harry’s Tagliolini
For mains, we opted for the Linguine Al Granchio with squid ink linguine, white crab meat, chilli, garlic, spring onion, white wine & Amalfi lemon, and the Frutti de Mare Seafood platter of lobster tail, squid, prawns, clams & mussels cooked with artichokes and chilli in white wine, and served with grilled focaccia. The squid ink linguine was delicately tender with a slight firmness, a gentle nod to the traditional al dente approach of Italy.
With each mouthful of crab meat, salty notes erupted in your mouth, finishing with subtle hints of chilli and garlic that enveloped your taste buds. The fish platter was a welcomed contrast to the warmth of the Linguine Al Granchio. Meaty chunks of fish dipped in the sweet artichoke and spicy chilli sauce was a fish lover’s dream.
Harry’s Spaghetti Seafood by John Carey
Harry’s Bar, Linguine Vongole
For dessert, despite being advised to try some more adventurous dishes, we both opted for Harry’s Toadstool, an incredible and playful construction of white chocolate, fresh raspberries, mascarpone mousse, and iced vanilla parfait, which quite literally looked like a fairy toadstool. Served with pistachio biscotti crunch and a warm pistachio sauce – a green colour that resembled grass and elevated the fairy-like concept even further. I am not a dessert person, but I ate every last bit.
With an overwhelming amount of Italian restaurants on offer in the city of London, it can seem daunting branching out in search of a reliable pasta dish to satisfy your cravings. Harry’s Bar is the answer. With authentically traditional Italian dishes set in a glamorous retro setting and a host of welcoming staff, look no further for your pasta/pizza/toadstool fill the next time you’re hungry on the streets of London.
by Lily Rimmer
Harry’s Bar, 30 -34 James St, Marylebone, London W1U 1ER