Santini has been at the heart of fine dining in London for 27 years providing Belgravia with exceptional Italian food with a Venetian flavour. Zoe Collins has been finding out what keeps Santinti such a popular landmark in SW1...

Santini has an impressive list of clientele, what is the key to your success?
The key to our success has always been and always will be putting the customer first. Customers will always remember places where they receive exceptional service.

How has Santini changed over the years?
Whilst the décor has been updated in the last few years, the ethos, service and attitude to food at Santini continues to be the same as when we opened. We are a family run business and we pride ourselves on consistency and high quality which is why our customers return year after year.

Has Santini London always been based in SW1?
Yes, Santini has always been based in SW1, we picked this area because it suited the style of restaurant we wanted to open.

You source fresh produce directly from the Mercati di Milano in Italy as much as possible, do you know your local suppliers just as well?
We know the best suppliers in London and use them for most of our fresh ingredients so we can guarantee their freshness and quality. What we can’t find from suppliers in London, we get from suppliers in Italy. The relationship with our suppliers is important because good quality produce is vital to our success.

Could you tell me more about the private dining experience at Santini?
Our private dining room is a separate area, just off the main restaurant, which can be used for exclusive dinners. It is generally used five or six times a week by some of our regular customers and can be used in conjunction with our selection of group menus.

Victoria BID works closely with a number of local charities, do Santini get involved in the SW1 community?
Yes, we try to. We think that community is very important- most of our regular customers live nearby and local trade is very important to us.

What dish would you say most sums up Santini?
Carciofo Santini (slow cooked globe artichoke), Costoletta alla Milanese (classic veal chop coated in bread crumbs and fried crisp) and Calamari Fritti are our speciality dishes which give an overall impression of our restaurant.

Do you have any plans for expansion?
We currently have a franchise at the Sheraton in Edinburgh and are negotiating at present for the re-opening of Santini Milan.

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