Sette - Knightsbridge & Belgravia, London

Sette sets the bar high, taking over the broad and beautiful space spread across the ground floor of the gilt, gorgeous Bulgari Hotel, and above the lounge bar where so many of you had a lovely time at our party last week. Launched by the Scarpetta Group, which has been flirting with dominance in the New York Italian restaurant market since launching its first outpost in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in 2008, Sette borrows its name from the Italian word for "seven", and its attitude from our perfection-driven neighbours across the pond. 

The dining room exudes and easy elegance, with a colour scheme and design that leands heavily into mid-century modern and art deco. Think leathern brown-backed seating, cream-coloured leather banquettes, panelled dark-wood flooring, sleek wall-sconce lighting and statement pendant chandeliers. Mirrored walls come in handy for people-watching, and there's a wonderful circular bar serving cocktails for relaxed preprandials or postprandial drinks before heading downstairs to the lovely lounge Nolita Social, where we recently hosted a members' party.  

We kicked off our meal with starters of burrata d'Andria strewn withfig, radicchio, roasted almond and balsamic as well as impeccably seared scallops with a delicate balance of chestnut puree, grapes, guanciale and black trumpet mushrooms. For mains, we couldn't help ourselves and enjoyed bountiful plates of pasta. Lobster tagliolini amplified the flavours of the crustacean with acquapazza, Calabrian chilli, tomato and spicy basil breadcrumbs, while ravioli cacio e pepe enhanced the classic Roman dish with charred leek, brown butter and sage. A dessert of vanilla cheesecake was light and fresh with granny smith apple, and almond crumble and blackberry sorbet. 

All in, it was excellent.