Our punter says
Piazza sits on the fifth floor of the iconic Royal Opera House, with views overlooking Covent Garden’s famous square. Recently revamped and newly opened to the public, the space is luxurious and contemporary, offering a warm and intimate dining experience. The atmosphere was buzzing at first, owing to theatre-goers attending the evening ballet performance, but quickly turned very quiet and reserved as they were ushered into the auditorium.
The menu, which showcases the best of London’s seasonal market produce, was traditional yet extensive. Service was brilliant from start to finish, both friendly and attentive.
We started with some snacks and starters to share. The standout dishes for us were the beautifully fresh Colchester rock oysters and gloriously savoury cod’s roe atop giant, crisp Quavers. The Asian-inspired duck arancini were crisp, with a tangy mango sauce. The richness of the airy chicken liver parfait worked well with the sweet raisin purée it was served on.
For mains, we indulged in the £70 côte de boeuf sharing plate, which came with a side of triple-cooked chips, a small salad and helping of béarnaise sauce. While the beef was succulent and cooked to our liking, it lacked a punch of flavour, and the slightly undercooked chips were somewhat unremarkable.
To finish, we shared the choux buns with white chocolate and roasted figs. Although the presentation was elegant and delicate, the sweetness was too intense after such a rich meal, so I wish we’d opted for one of the fruitier offerings.
For me, while the beautiful setting, décor and food presentation were worthy of a special, celebratory meal, I felt the mains and desserts were overpriced, and I think that they have a little way to go until it can be considered a standalone destination for diners.
Bill for two, including a bottle of wine and service: £188.66 Atmosphere: 8
Service: 9
Food: 7
Total: 24/30