Numero Uno, Battersea

I met for a friend for lunch on Sunday and, no destination in mind, we wandered up Northcote Road in the sun.  Again, Lola Rojo caught my eye but she wasn't in the mood for Spanish food and further on, noticing Numero Uno, we both stopped.

It was a very traditional looking restaurant with small wooden tables, starchy white table linen and a selection of friends and families tucking into pasta and wine.  As if waiting for us, one table for two in the middle of the little outdoor terrace sat empty.  

The service here is traditional, old school Italian.  An older man, presumably the owner, walks the restaurant and makes sure everyone has drinks and is enjoying their food.  He is a real charmer.  We begin with the bread, provided under the £1.50 cover charge, which is soft French stick - fresh if a little boring.  It is, served, with a delicious paste that is a deep green and tastes of beautiful black olives and garlic.

Over tap water and a bottle of very decent house white Hannah and I indulge in 'Suzannah York', an apparently delicious pasta dish served with truffles and creamy sauce, and the homemade tagliatelle with clams, squid and prawns in a rich tomato sauce.  Often, I find pasta dishes with a tomato, as opposed to a cream base a little boring but this time it was utterly delicious.  The seafood was fresh and generous, too.

I was sad that we were far too full for a pudding as they were displayed inside on a dessert trolley - homemade apple pies, tiramisu, custard cream tart...

However, as the proprietor said, we were sweet enough as we were.

One course and half a bottle of wine: £20 per head

Value: 8/10

Service: 9/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Food: 7/10

SCORE: 31/40

Numero Uno, 139 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6PX.  Tel: 020 79785837.