Terra Moderna takes on a certain allure in the evening. The light is low, the sculptural fixtures cast a soft glow across the room and there is that quiet anticipation of sitting down to a meal you already know is going to be worth savouring.
The menu is modern Italian at heart but with unexpected influences across the globe. It’s the kind of cooking that stimulates all of your senses; the bright acidity of passion fruit cuts through the richness of red prawn tartare, delicate maitake mushroom tempura brings a light crunch, and fresh tuna tataki offers a clean, delicate start. The handmade pasta is exactly what you come to an Italian restaurant for, with tagliatelle and Barolo-infused slow-cooked ox cheek ragù serving as a particular favourite, deeply savoury, with the sort of richness that makes you want to savour every mouthful.
There’s pleasure in the details; the way a dish arrives at the table, the balance of something sharp against something rich, the first sip of a wine that turns out to be exactly right. The list brings together carefully selected Italian bottles with discoveries from some of the best producers of the New World, chosen with the same curiosity and care as the food.
It all feels considered without feeling precious. The waiters have a genuine interest in what they are serving, and are happy to guide you where needed. There is warmth in the room, a little theatre in the food and despite the degree of sophistication, none of the stiffness that can come with such an elevated dining experience.
For a date night, it is an unbeatable combination: food worth talking about, wine worth discovering and an atmosphere that transforms your evening into something you’ll want to experience again.
Modern Italian. With a little extra intrigue. Book a table today.
