Restaurant News Sponsored by Ditsch UK
Cent Anni will officially launch on 1 March 2026 in St John’s Wood, on the site which was previously Café Med for the past 25 years. Building on the terrific success of Cent Anni in Wimbledon Village, which opened in 2019, owner Raymond de Fazio is introducing the informal Italian food and wine style to the St John’s Wood restaurant.
“This is a restaurant for the neighbours,” explains de Fazio, “but we also want to appeal to a broader London audience, whether for family gatherings, dinner with friends or colleagues, or drinks and snacks on the terrace. Our private rooms are also ideal for celebrations or meetings. The transformation from Café Med has been inspired by the success of our Wimbledon Village restaurant, and we are confident that our warm hospitality and Italian cuisine will truly appeal in north London.”
The 48-seat restaurant, with an expansive terrace for up to 60, is in a stylish residential neighbourhood, just a few minutes away from St John’s Wood High Street, Lord’s Cricket Ground, Abbey Road, and St John’s Wood underground.
The two private dining rooms are on the 1st floor, available separately or together for larger parties. The smaller room can accommodate up to 12 on a round table, while the larger space can seat up to 30.
The menus, overseen by Head Chef Elton Souta da Silva, are a mix of classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Highlights include:
Starters – Calamari fritti with lemon mayonnaise; Vitello tonnato; Arancini cacio e pepe; Salmon tartare with sourdough crisp; Burrata with Sicilian datterini tomatoes
Pasta/Risotto – Linguine with king prawns; Rigatoni with lamb ragù; Spaghetti carbonara; Mascarpone, broad bean, pea and mint risotto
Main Courses – Veal Milanese with rocket and Parmesan salad; Oven-baked cod with broccolini and roast cherry tomatoes; Calves liver with garlic wilted spinach; Sea bass fillets with garlic spinach; and three Steak options (Rib eye, Fillet, and Prime rib of beef on the bone, for two)
Desserts – Amalfi lemon tart with fresh cream; Tiramisù; and Vanilla panna cotta with blood orange marmalade.
A regular roster of menu and drinks initiatives includes:
Pasta Monday (any pasta for £14 at both lunch and dinner)
Wine Wednesday (25% off bottles, excluding Tignanello and Solaia)
Sunday Roast (classic Italian roast porchetta or roast beef – £24pp)
There is also a great value set lunch menu available Monday-Friday, changing weekly, at £17 for two courses, or £20 for three.
The 50 bin wine list kicks off at £27 (bottle) and there are 20 offered by th glass (from £10), and there are some superb well-priced selections for wine connoisseurs.
The Grade II listed building has undergone an interior and terrace refurbishment. Design notes include a neutral palette, with light walnut wood flooring, banquette and chair seating in shades of olive and seaweed leather and velvet, new lighting, a working fireplace, and the open-to-view kitchen.
Cent Anni – 21 Loudoun Road, London NW8 0LT
Parking for up to 10 cars
Reservations: 020-7625 1222, or via email – reservations@centanninw8.co.uk
www.centanni.co.uk
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday Noon-10.30pm, Sunday Noon-10pm
Itinerary: The Mediterranean aha Forum, in Partnership with VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings
Restaurant News Sponsored by Ditsch UK
