Made in Italy

When you’re near King’s Road and need a place that has rustic interiors, dim lighting, and sourdough pizzas that’ll do the job (and then some), Made In Italy is your best bet. This three-floor restaurant in Chelsea is serving all the classics—think bruschetta and an aubergine parmigiana that feels like a hug—as well as some top pizzas. 

This is a neighbourhood restaurant in every sense. It’s been around for over three decades, a favourite with the locals, and it can be used for everything from a big group dinner to a casual terrace lunch on the rare occasion that London's weather is cooperating. You’ll find couples splitting a burrata on their third date, friends picking at pistachio mortadella while giving impassioned life updates, and unassuming groups who decided to come in after seeing the buzz through the floor to ceiling windows.

Whoever you come here with, the important thing you should know is that the pizzas come with a generous amount of marinara, have an excellent chewy crust, and come topped with anything from spicy salami to mushrooms and black truffle. As for the pastas, what you’ll find in this candle-lit spot are comforting, rich sauces with perfectly al dente pasta. Our personal favourite is the Sicilian norma, which comes in a hearty tomato sauce with meaty, soft chunks of aubergine, and a healthy serving of fresh ricotta. But whether you go with that, or the creamy cacio e pepe, rest assured that they’re all pretty solid options.

Put simply, the food here isn’t unlike anything you’ve ever tasted, but it’s reliable and there’s something here for everyone, even if the ‘something’ you’re after is a hidden terrace with fairy lights. It’s ideal for a date, or an intimate birthday dinner that should always end in a slice of tiramisu.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Aubergine Parmigiana

The ultimate comfort dish with layers of fried aubergine, melted mozzarella, and tomato sauce, this is salty and warming in all the right ways.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Bruschetta

A classic done right, it’s fresh from the tomatoes, a little sharp from the garlic, and a great way to start a meal here.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Norma

The pasta shape changes daily, but this rich tomato sauce with chunks of melt-in-the-mouth aubergine and dollops of fresh ricotta cheese means it doesn’t matter if it’s rigatoni or fusilli, because either way we’re very into this vegetarian pasta.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Cacio e pepe

Cheesy, peppery, and creamy, this is a very decent cacio e pepe, although the one at their sister restaurant La Mia Mamma still wins.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Margherita

The pizzas are the pride and joy here, with 18 different ones to choose from. They’re thin, with chewy sourdough crusts. And you can’t go wrong with this classic tomato and mozzarella number.