The Italian Greyhound, Marylebone, review

The Italian Greyhound sits handsomely on the corner of Seymour Street and Seymour Place in an area sprinkled with high end restaurants like Anglo Thai and Basque restaurant Donosita. But times are tough, and these are not the kind of places most people can afford on a regular basis. The Italian Greyhound is not trying to be anything fancy. It is just here to be the neighbourhood restaurant we all need.

Image courtesy of The Italian Greyhound Restaurant, Marylebone.

Cost of living crisis aside, we can all appreciate a restaurant cooking quality food at reasonable prices, with seamless service and a comfortable and beautifully decorated dining room. The Italian Greyhound is bred to deliver on all these counts.

Previously named Bernardi’s it was relaunched in 2021 removing the large bar on the lower ground floor and turning it into a Garden Room for functions and events and creating an upstairs bar into a cosy spot to enjoy Italian Aperitivo and small plates from 4-6pm on weekdays. The bar has its own entrance making it easy to spill out onto the sheltered outside wrap around terrace.

Image courtesy of The Italian Greyhound Restaurant, Marylebone.

This is a gem of an Italian Restaurant to have in this area not far from Marble Arch as you head into Marylebone. At the helm is Chef Robert Carmo having spent some time working at the River Café gives us a menu celebrating casual Italian cooking and drinking with a focus on fresh, handmade pasta, seasonal produce, and a curated wine and cocktail list. Being a Negroni fan, I was intrigued by their enticing variations: a white negroni, a Kyoto negroni with Sake, and an Ember Martini with mezcal tequila instead of gin and a Fig Negroni which adds a fig liqueur. I had decided I wouldn’t be drinking alcohol at lunch, but all bets were off when I saw the Fig Negroni. It arrived a beautifully blushing red colour with a large square ice cube topped with a slice of dried fig. Perfection.

The restaurant has a Scandinavian feel to it, with clean lines, muted colours, and pale woods that create a calm, understated atmosphere - the perfect balance between modern & homey. Warmth comes from the honey-leather banquettes and lush potted plants lining one side of the room. Designed to work beautifully in all weather, the space is flooded with natural light thanks to large windows on two sides, which make it feel light and airyall year-round. When the windows are opened, you almost feel as though you’re sitting outside, seamlessly connected to the wraparound terrace, complete with heaters and a sleek grey-and-white retractable awning.It does get a touch loud when the restaurant is busy, but tables are well spaced, which helps.

Image courtesy of The Italian Greyhound Restaurant, Marylebone.

It's an all-day affair opening at 8 am daily serving an extensive breakfast with an Italian twist - think Mortadella Benedict. We visited on a sunny lunchtime starting with a basket of homemade focaccia and pane carasau (a traditional Sicilian flatbread) to go with the Burrata, perfectly pickled beets and a broad bean, courgette pesto. And who doesn’t love arancini! I very much enjoyed this version which came out piping hot, made with Taleggio cheese, Spinach and Calabrian Chilli for a gentle kick.

The pizzas here are crisp rather than the doughy Napolitana style pizza, and shaped in a rectangle making it easy to slice and share. We tried the Fig, Gorgonzola, Rosemary and Honey Pizza which was a delicious mix of savoury with a touch of sweet and made me want to come back and try all the other pizzas. That’s saying something as I rarely order pizza.  

Image courtesy of The Italian Greyhound Restaurant, Marylebone.

I ordered the Crab Linguine, Spring Onion and Chilli. It was evident immediately that the pasta is handmade daily, beautifully tender with a pleasant bite. The sauce had a light creaminess to it and spring onion, though not a common Italian ingredient, is an ingredient I love and is a staple in my fridge so I am certainly not complaining. It works and was delicious. On the sides menu was Aubergine Parmigiana which we ordered. A rich and comforting dish and reminded me just how awful the one I had recently in a Piccadilly restaurantwas. This one was so good it could easily deserve a place as a main dish.  

We finished with the a few scoops of ice cream and the Pistachio Tiramisu, which was a triumph: not too sweet, moist, perfectly balanced and lightly nutty, delicious! Worth coming back for that alone.

Pistachio Tiramisu. The Italian Greyhound Restaurant, Marylebone. Image credit MTotoe.

Service was professional and efficient in a calm and relaxed way with our server pacing the meal beautifully. This is exactly what a neighbourhood restaurant should be — a versatile spot that works for breakfast meetings, work lunches, family dinners, casual dates, or post-work aperitivo. With freshly made pasta, homemade ice cream, a thoughtful Negroni menu, and excellent value in a beautiful light-filled space, The Italian Greyhound wins the race.

Location: 62 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BN Website: theitaliangreyhound.co.uk Instagram: @greyhoundmarylebone

Review by Natascha Milsom