The award-winning, family run Miraggio on Fulham Road is a charming venue serving an impressive selection of authentic Italian dishes from its restaurant as well as some delightful lunches and snacks from the adjoining deli.

The Venue
The restaurant is intimate with a simplistic, nautical theme. As with many establishments of this kind, nothing quite matches but it doesn’t seem to matter, maybe because it reminds us, in a romantic way, of our grandparents’ sitting rooms where collected ornaments would clash like warriors. At the end of the room is a large hatch from which you can see the chefs as they busily prepare your meal. To the left is a door which leads into the equally intimate deli where delectable sweet and savoury displays surround the few chairs and tables available here; a viable alternative for locals looking for freshly prepared lunchtime options rather than the fast or pre-packaged kind.

The Atmosphere
Miraggio has the kind of ambience you’d expect from a simply-run, Mamma-owned Italian restaurant. The warmth of the place generates a relaxed and comfortable environment as Fulham’s patrons tuck into their rustic, hearty fare. It’s one of those venues where the desire to stay and order another bottle of wine comes all too easily. Perhaps the only letdown is the lack of a suitable soundtrack; customers can expect too much time given over to middle-of-the-road artists from the past two decades.

The Food
Don’t expect any surprises or contemporary twists to familiar dishes, this is classic Italian food served in the manner it always has been. A choice starter from the Antipasti menu would be the Parmigiana Mamma Maria, a Neapolitan dish of layers of aubergine in tomato sauce. The aubergine is cooked perfectly, soft without being mushy, and the overall taste is subtle yet tasty with the uncomplicated tomato sauce. Another starter worth sampling is the prawn cocktail, brought alive by the intensity of the balsamic vinegar and the delicious courgettes.

For the mains, there are plenty of familiar friends on the menu such as spaghetti carbonara and gnocchi in tomato sauce but the linguine pasta with wild clams in particular is amazing, served in a cherry tomato sauce which brings a tantalising zing to the fresh, plump clams and the veal escalope is a beautiful meal, served with rich and earthy porcini mushrooms in a flavoursome white wine. From the deli, there is some wonderful homemade lasagne on offer with thin strips of ham substituting the beef for the filling and a slightly chunky sauce with lots of extra vegetables.

The Drink
The carefully-selected wine list provides a number of excellent options to accompany your meal; the Badia Chianti Classico Reserva is well-rounded and fresh red, ideal with veal, and the Greco di Tufo Cutizzi is a pure white with peachy overtones for either seafood or possibly chicken. Beers, spirits and some common cocktails are also available from the drinks menu.

The Last Word
Classic Italian fare coupled with alluring charm, Miraggio is a fine choice in Fulham.

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