Ristorante Semplice is a one-michelin starred rated Italian here in London that I hadn’t really heard about until the offer came upon on groupon. £35 for the seven course tasting menu (normally £85) was too good a bargain for Jenny and I to ignore. I was surprised at how easy it was too book a meal – normally with these offers it’s a near impossibility!

Upon first sitting down we were given these very thinly sliced baked vegetables (so thin and fine that it was almost like eating air), parmesan puffs and thin crisp bread. A couple of the pieces were threaded with olive or tomato juice. All very cute but I particularly enjoyed the parmesan puffs which were at one strangely sweet and salty.

Then the bread came! Options of foccacia (rosemary and thyme), tomato bread, and brown bread and another which I can’t remember. Interestingly bread offered right up until it was dessert time. Conscious of not getting over full on breads I tried to resist the bread but it was so delicious … lucky we didn’t have to wait too long for …

Carne di manza Fassone all’ Albese – Fassone carpaccio ‘Alba Style’. When this was brought to the table it was also served with salad “mash”. I know. The carpaccio itself was not very strongly flavoured for me. Jenny detected the hint of lemon or citrus which she enjoyed – but I felt it was bland.

The next dish had more flavour. Coda di rospo alla Milanese con panzanella di lattuga cappuccino e uova di quaglia or Baby monkfish “Milanese” served with gem lettuce “panzanella” style and soft quail eggs. Individually quite delicious though I didn’t understand the necessity of having the monkfish breaded and fried, and the panzanella was slightly too vinegary. Oh and it might have been nice to have both halves of the quail egg …

The Passata di carote, tortelli di ricotta di bufala e arancia – Carrot soup, buffalo ricotta cheese and orange tortelli we received next was one of my favourite dishes of the night. Great taste in the carrot soup and the tortelli had an interesting hit of cheese chased by the orange. Very different!

I love love love ragout so the next dish of Sedanini all’uovo con ragu’ di capriolo e salsa al cavolo nero – homemade egg sedanini pasta with venison ragout and black cabbage sauce was right up my alley. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous flavouring – all three items worked very well in balance. The black cabbage sauce was strangely verdant!

From quite a high to something a little less dramatic and exciting. San Pietro con passata di ceci di Spello e spinaci saltati – John Dory served with “Spello” chickpea sauce and sautéed spinach. Chickpea would not have been my choice to go with this but overall a well cooked dish.

Desserts started with Frittella di mela golden, crema inglese alla canella e gelatina di mela. Apple fritters (there was only one!) with cinnamon custard cream (delicious) and apply jelly (very fresh and strongly flavoured). Disappointing that the fritter tasted very strongly of oil so not sure it was fresh.

Of course the finale had to be something with chocolate. Fondente di cioccolato Domori, pannacotta alla grapapa, pan di spezie e sorbetto al cioccolato. “Domori” chocolate fondant served with grappa pannacotta, crispy spice bread and chocolate sorbet. Perfectly melty fondant and surprisingly light. I particularly liked the croutons which were nice and caramelly.

Some cute, if not exciting, petit fours.

We had an enjoyable time at Ristorante Semplice. The name might be simple but the food tonight certainly wasn’t. Complex and intense flavourings for the most part in the food gave us a different spin on traditional Italian dishes. The service was efficient (pleasingly water was topped up without noticing – except towards the end) and friendly with lots of preggos, you’re welcome, pleases, etc. however I felt they didn’t properly explain the food to us. Food was delivered with a nice “Here is your monkfish and quail eggs” when actually it was more than just that and I felt it would have been better if they had gone into more depth about the food. Great value for money on the groupon deal, probably a touch on the expensive otherwise.