Inside Pinna. Soon after this shot, the room was completely full - it's already creating a buzz.
What can you tell us about Pinna?
This is the latest restaurant from George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev, a team that was very busy in 2024 when, alongside this, they also opened restaurants Lita and Fantomas. This Mayfair restaurant brings over Achille Pinna, the former head chef at Wild to run his own Sardinian restaurant with close ties to the chef's heritage.
Where is it?
It's on Curzon Street, just next to Shepherd Market, taking over a space that used to be a bank. If you're taking the tube, Green Park is your best option. For a brand new restaurant, it manages to pull off the vibe of a place that's been there forever. It's a classic-looking room, giving off an old-school upmarket Italian vibe. There's nothing quite like it in the area (nearby Italian restaurant Murano has a very different offering) and as such it's already getting a lot of attention.
You'll find Pinna just around the corner from Shepherd Market
Where's a good place for a drink before (or after)?
Given that it's pretty close to Shepherd Market - there are two wine bars we'd immediately recommend. The first is Noble Rot Mayfair, which has a small bar hidden away on the first floor. However, much as we love a drink at Noble Rot, a personal favourite of ours is also on the same street - the Shepherd Market Wine House. We almost always stop there for a quick glass if we're in the area.
Alternatively - if you go a little farther to Green Park, you're not too far from the excellent bar at The Dover (which is where we visited post-Pinna).
And once at Pinna - where should we sit?
There are no obvious recommendations one way or the other. Only standard seats are on offer (no counter dining or booth seating) and it's notably a good place to bring larger groups. As it takes up the entire depth of the building, you'll also get light from both the back and front. If you want something warming for winter, though, ask for the table by the roaring fire.
Onto the food, what to expect?
The menu takes the standard Italian four-course template of starters, pasta, mains and dessert. We'd suggest sharing at least one pasta dish as well as a main (the latter of which are all intended for sharing). Some dishes are specifically influenced by the chef's Sardinian heritage, but it's very much Italian food through the lens of a high-end restaurant in Mayfair.
With all that in mind, here's a taste of what's on offer:
Oysters with raspberry vinegar granita (£5 each) - Although we think a high-end Italian should really be fully shucking the oysters for you, we particularly loved the touch of the granita/sorbet - it worked surprisingly well.
Aberdeen beef tartare, relish and poached quail eggs (£25) - there's some beautiful plating going on here.
Bluefin tuna carpaccio (£26) - superbly sourced tuna with a delicate dressing.
Oxtail tortello, cavolo nero and oxtail glaze (£28) - as you'd imagine, the pasta is pitch perfect (as it was at Wild too).
"Andarinos", venison ragu and pecorino fiore sardo (£26) - while you could easily share one of the pasta courses, this was an excellent ragu (we got a little greedy).
Bone-in Vercelli veal Milanese (£48) - because this is served more as a cutlet as opposed to being flattened, this Milanese wasn't dry at all - one of the very best examples we've had in an age.
And room for dessert?
After those two pasta dishes, there wasn't too much room, to be honest. Options do include an Amedie dark chocolate cake or a Basque cheesecake, but the following proved perfect for sharing.
"Pinna" ricotta cannoli, prickly pear and pistachio (£16).
And what about drinks?
The wine list is sizeable (15 pages) and there's an understandably strong Italian focus, with Sardinian wines highlighted too.
As far as the wine list goes, we're very much in Mayfair territory, so your entry-level wine price is £45, but there are at least a few options in the £45-£55 mark. There's also a decent selection of wines available by the glass/carafe. You can, of course, go a lot spendier with the upper limit at the time of writing being a 2021 Domaine Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru at a whopping £14,250.
And we'd say it's well worth keeping an eye on the cocktail list - both of these were excellent:
Clementine and Persimmon (gin, clementine, persimmon, bay, £18) and the Quince and Pear (Benromach 10yr, Pineau des Charentes, quince, pear, lemon oil, £18).
Overall thoughts
Mayfair has its fair share of high-end Italian restaurants, but this one feels a little different to the others. It manages to mix a touch of old-school approach in the decor and service with a bit of Mayfair glamour. The restauranteurs clearly know something or two about creating a vibe as, like Lita and Fantomas before it, this was already buzzing in its first week. Combine that with some excellent cooking from a proven chef and this is another immediate hit for them.
More about Pinna
Where is it? 43 Curzon Street, London W1J 7UF
How to book: Book online
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @pinnamayfair
Hot Dinners ate as guests of Pinna. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
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