Latium Restaurant

I've been to Latium twice, 2 months apart, and unfortunately the 1st visit was significantly better than the second visit. My first visit comprised of having a fragrant tuna tartare as a starter, roast duck that comes with a decent gravy as the main and the pear and almond tarte with vanilla ice cream as a substantial dessert. The meal was then followed by complementary petit fours, which were a pleasant selection of sweet bites per person. This visit was during the middle of the week on a weekday for dinner, perhaps that contributed to the different experience. The set menu had also changed by my second visit.

My second visit was on a Saturday for lunch. I had roasted veal for a starter, roasted pork for the main and a few scoops of sorbet for dessert. Whilst this was still a nice meal, the portions felt somewhat on the smaller side and the ice cream had chunks of ice in it. Furthermore no petit fours were provided. 

Therefore Latium seems like a amiable choice to have, a convenient short walk away from busy oxford street but is a bit hit and miss with its overall outcome. Perhaps a better choice for a light hearted meal than for a remarkable dining experience.

Latium has been a great find and we've been here on each of our last two trips.

Italian fine dining with two or three course options and also chef's special ravioli menu. We decided on a few starters, pastas and mains and we were on our way. Our dishes for the night included:

MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA CAMPANA D.O.P. CON ZUCCHINE GRIGLIATE E POMODORINI SECCHI AL FORNO
Buffalo mozzarella D.O.P. from Campania with grilled courgettes
and oven-dried tomato

POLIPO ALLA GRIGLIA CON SALSA DI CECI, SCAROLA RIPASSATA E OLIO AL TIMO LIMONE
Grilled octopus with chick-pea sauce, sautéed escarole and lemon
thyme olive oil

TAGLIOLINI CON ZUCCHINI, GAMBERI ROSSI DI MAZZARA DEL VALLO E PREZZEMOLO
Tagliolini with courgettes, Mazzara del Vallo red prawns and
parsley

GNOCCHI DI PATATE ALLA RUCOLA CON SALSA ALLE VONGOLE E
POMODORINI PACHINO
Potato and rocket gnocchi with clams and Pachino cherry tomato

CAPPESANTE AVVOLTE CON PANCETTA, FRUTTI DI MARE, ORZO ALLO ZAFFERANO, SPINACI
Pan-fried scallops wrapped with pancetta, seafood and saffron
pearl barley, wilted spinach

PESCE SPADA ALLA GRIGLIA CON VERDURE GRIGLIATE, ACETO BALSAMICO BIANCO E ANETO
Grilled swordfish with grilled mixed vegetables, dill and white
balsamic vinegar dressing

Having just had the delectable Lobster ravioli at GR Claridge, we passed on the raviolis. I liked the octopus and scallops a lot. They were both perfectly cooked and not at all rubbery. The gnocci was great and I'm really digging rocket lately. Kris enjoyed the pasta with prawns, which we've had both times here. She also loved her Swordfish, which was nice and light with the mixed veggies. The grillman in me marveled at the nice hex patterned grill marks on the huge piece of fish she got. It was quite good, and clearly well executed. We finished with a sorbetto trio of lemon, raspberry and passion fruit.

Latium is such a great deal and we enjoyed it. They have a nice chef's table in back overlooking the kitchen that seats 6.

Latium is a fine dining independent Italian restaurant located within close proximity to Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road stations. Head chef Maurizio Morreli created several of the Latium menus including the Ravioli menu. The bread and pasta are freshly made each day by head chef Maurizio Morreli so they are a must try when visiting this incredible restaurant!

We were seated and given our menus and much to my surprise out popped two glasses of prosecco and this delightful complimentary bowl of freshly baked breads, cured meat, mozzarella, olive oil and olives. The bread was fresh and delicious, I couldn't help but slather it in cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. However I knew starters were coming so I avoided filling up on their delicious bread.

Ravioli filled with taleggio, Swiss chard and walnuts, with marjoram
As you can see it was presented beautifully, depicting a bunch of flowers. I've honestly never wanted to touch such a delicious plate of food in all my life. I am not the biggest fan of ravioli, perhaps as all I've ever experienced is shop bought. But scrap that thought because this was the most fresh and delicious ravioli I have ever had.

A selection of 4 fish ravioli, made with sea bass bottarga
Now as you can see this was an interesting ravioli dish, picked by the waiter. Each different coloured ravioli contained a different flavour intensity of sea bass. Starting from the right (black) and working your way to left () the flavour intensifies. I tried just a bite of the mildest as I didn't want to ruin the palette of my delicate revioli. However Shehzad mentioned just how fresh the ravioli was, the sea bass filling with bottarga herb also tasting fresh. This was his first experience with ravioli and I think it's safe to say he's been converted!

We were also treated to a generous plate of Buffalo mozzarella on a bed of tomatoes and drizzled with basil pesto and olive oil. Perfect with our freshly made breads we snacked on earlier!

Roast fillet of cod, sauteed courgette and spinach
The cod sounded like a very fresh and healthy option on the menu so Shehzad opted for this one! When it arrived I couldn't help but give an 'mmm' sound. It did indeed look very fresh, a thick and delicious cod fillet on a bed of sauteed courgette and spinach. I had a little taste and was very impressed with the dish. I absolutely adore cod and would have happily eaten the whole thing. The veggies were equally as delicious and seasoned well!

Roast pork belly with wilted spinach, borlotti beans, salted ricotta and roast baby leeks
I really wanted to try something different and a little out of my comfort zone so I opted for what sounded VERY interesting on the menu, the roast pork belly. It arrived looking oh so sophisticated and well presented. All the flavours from the beans, salted ricotta and leek complimented the pork belly so well. The pork belly itself was melt in your mouth delicious. Absolutely full of flavour and I could have happily had another plate given if my belly weren't so full!

Dessert was not on the cards after the incredibly filling starters and mains yet we decided to opt for what appeared on the menu as small portions, just to sample, you know!

Tiramisú with coffee mocha foam
I am a big fan of Tiramisu so of course that would stand out to me most on an Italian restaurant menu! I loved the presentation of this dish, they really do themselves justice! The tiramisu was delicious, creamy and fluffy with layers mascarpone, ladyfingers, cocoa and topped with a generous dusting of cocoa and coffee mocha foam. As I am such a huge coffee lover, I will happily say that the foam was the best part. So strong and fresh! The dish all together was delicious and I'm sad to say I struggled to finish it all.

Ice-cream and sorbet
A lovely little bowl containing a trio of Italian ice-cream and sorbet. I didn't quite hear the flavours given and I barely got a mouthful as Shehzad was so utterly besotted with it (I cannot blame him). Italian Ice-cream is like sheer heaven and definitely makes me want to take a short break to Italy! The texture was so smooth and silky. Not at all heavy on the stomach like regular milky ice creams.

To finish we were treated to a selection of in-house made chocolate truffles and amaretti biscuits. Absolutely delicious, some deep and indulgent and others light with a coconut dusting! I absolutely love amaretti biscuits- I've been known to eat a whole pack in a previous job as a teenager!

Overall our experience at Latium was outstanding. People don't give enough credit to individual restaurants! The service from the waiters and head waiter were incredible. They tended to every need of both ourselves and other guests at the establishment. The food was so fresh and delicious, I couldn't complain about anything. Latium is definitely the perfect place for a first date, celebration or dinner before heading to the theatre!

Latium has good quality food, but I don't like the vibe of the restaurant at all. First of all, it's never very crowded and only a few tables are taken. This doesn't make for a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Second, making matters worse, waiters hover around you, watch you, and make you feel so uncomfortable. I get that they don't have anything else to do since they aren't busy, but it makes for a very unpleasant dining experience. Third, it's too stuffy and pretentious. Waiters are overly formal and there is almost a claustrophobic atmosphere.

All tables are provided a complimentary bread basket with oil, cheese, meats, and olives. The cool thing about this place is that they have a large ravioli menu, which I feel is an underrated pasta. There is so much room for experimentation with ravioli and restaurants don't seem to take advantage of that. Often it's just a ricotta spinach with a tomato sauce or the unfortunately ever popular pumpkin ravioli with a butter sage sauce. So routine. This place, though, has some great options. And you can order either small or large portions of any pasta dish, so it's great if you want to share or try a few things.

1.Pea Ravioli with Cuttlefish Sauce - peas inside, topped with cuttlefish and served with a light fish broth sauce. The dish is very fishy, so it's one to be avoided if you don't want that taste permeating. And the flavors themselves weren't the best. I wouldn't recommend this dish.

2.Lemon Ricotta Ravioli - I have seen lemon combined with gnocchi or ravioli before and it's certainly different. It tastes very lemony, so if you're looking for something more unique and packed with flavor, this is the way to go.

3.Buccatini with burrata cheese and pomodoro sauce - this one was delicious. The buccatini was homemade and cooked perfectly. Tomato sauce was flavorful and thick. Burrata is always rich and creamy. I'd recommend this dish as a it's a classic that is well executed.

The ingredients are fresh and the quality of the food is good. Not everything is a hit, but the main deterrent is that it doesn't feel like a good place to spend a couple of hours casually dining. Also, prices are quite high. Regrettably, I won't go back.

Really excellent Italian restaurant in London - some of the best pasta outside of Italy!
Nice atmosphere.

After going here with my boyfriend's family, I brought my own family here to have the set menu again because it was not only really worth the deal, but it's a great place to bring family for a very nice occasion.
You get any three dishes for a set price: either 2 appetizers with a main, or 1 appetizer, one main and one dessert. For deals like this I usually get dessert but their appetizers are too good: their fresh pastas or beef tartar, etc... the second time I didn't get dessert. For mains I love their seafood, especially their scallops with squid sauce when I was there the first time. Note that they do occasionally change their menu.
Just a walk away from Oxford Circus, I love that they're on a quiet street, and once you get to their door you're instantly welcomed by their friendly, very professional staff. From being seated to leaving, the staff is there for you at every moment.
It's five-star from service to food... go here if you have family who don't eat a lot of Western cuisine and want to be impressed.

What a great little find.

I work around the corner and have probably walked past here hundreds of times, but it never really seemed to make a 'I should go there' impression.

A business associate booked us in for lunch here today and boy am I glad they did. A perfect antidote to the excessive media luviness of Charlotte Street, Latium is all about low key and inexpensive fine Italian dining.

They specialise in raviolis, but also have a great selection of meat and fish dishes. I opted for that Italian classic, beef tartare to start and ossobuco as my main.

The beef tartare was served with lovely fresh rocket and shaved parmesan and was nicely seasoned and well presented. Definitely worth a try if you want something a bit off-piste. The ossobuco was just lovely. Served with polenta and a creamy onion sauce, the meat was cooked well and came off the bone very easily.

A great spot for a business lunch or an intimate dinner date.

I loved the raviolis here. The ox-tail raviolis here were the best that I have had in my life. The place also gives you a plate of olives and crackers to start the meal. Although the meal is typical UK price.

I was fascinated by how Italian this place felt despite being in UK. I guess we don't really have these in the States as Italian restaurants tend to Americanize. I came here before a show during my two-day stay in London and the experience was wonderful. The server made sure we would get out in time for the show. Would definitely visit again if I have a chance.

One of the worst restaurants we've ever eaten at, especially on a special occasion like New Year's Eve. We were so looking forward to it, and all started well with the attention and bread/meats/cheese/olives to munch on. It all went to hell when the food arrived. All the pasta was undercooked (raviolone, ravioli special, and tagliatelle). The raviolone were drenched in butter, the ravioli special (pumpkin and venison) was barely edible, and my tagliatelle was chewy. The staff kept circling around us but wasn't very useful (our server could barely speak English and kept serving us water).

We asked the guy who appeared to be the manager to change the music to something Italian (as opposed to cheesy 80s songs) and he puts on a playlist that includes heavy Italian rock. We had to keep asking them to change it as the loud music was ruining the experience!

Overall a total let-down. I regret tipping them. And beware: They're cleanliness rating (displayed on the window) is a 4, and not a 5. Another reason to avoid them.

Went there with my gf and her parents this weekend. The 'ravioli menu' was great: inventive & subtle. The fish meals were delicious. Seconding other reviews about the wine.


On the downside I would simply say that it is defintely more about the quality than the quantity so some might not leave properly filled. The air conditioning was a bit strong too and we had to ask 3 times before they turned it down (other than that, the service was good).


Great place if you are looking for gourmet italian food.