Bella Cosa is a contemporary Italian restaurant in the City overlooking South Dock. Serving a variety of pizza and pasta dishes in addition to Bella Cosa regional Italian specials, all using quality Italian ingredients.
The intimate space is perfect for romantic dinners but with space for group dining in the upstairs dining room with a view, or in the private dining room surrounded by fine wine.
Bella Cosa offers you a journey through luxury Italian cuisine in the heart of the City.
OUR CHEF
Antonio Calo is originally from Brindisi, a region of Apulia in Southern Italy and brings a wealth of knowledge of Italian cuisine to Bella Cosa. After working in numerous kitchens in luxury five star hotels across the world Antonio made it to London where he worked at Italian restaurant Enoteca Turi in Putney Bridge, before moving further into central London to Covent Garden as Head Chef of Li Veli restaurant. Calo has now brought his skills to Bella Cosa, showcasing his expertise and skill of Italian cuisine, creating modern authentic Italian dishes for guests.
Antonio is a member of the FIC, the Federation of Italian Cooks, and APCI, the Italian Professional Chef Association.
Bella Cosa
Italian Restaurant in Canary Wharf
Modern but luxury authentic Italian dishes, using all quality Italian ingredients.
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Opening Summary
Monday - Sunday 12-3pm; 6-10pm
Monday - Sunday 12-3pm; 6-10pm
Restaurant Facilities
Credit Cards Accepted
Private Area
Bella Cosa Picture Gallery
Homemade Lemon Tart
Seared Red Tuna Steak, Fresh Black
Tuna Tartare
Salmon Gravadlax, Dill, Fennel, Pom
All In London Review
Make sure to leave room for dessert...
Bella Cosa seems to fit the bill. Though it’s a little off the main drag, situated as it is on the ‘other’ side of Canary Wharf, nearer to South Quay, the fact that it’s slightly set away from the action, as it were, may in fact work in its favour. On our Thursday evening visit it was all but empty when we arrived at 6.30 (early bird special…) but even when it filled up as we were leaving, it seemed to be with couples, locals and smaller groups of friends, lending it more an air of a local family-run restaurant rather than the vibe of some of the establishments I’ve visited around there which seem to always be full of Canary Wharf’s most annoying residents…
In true Italian style, the owner took great pride in circulating around every table throughout the evening, recommending dishes and wines, ensuring everyone was more than satisfied with their dinner and never missing an opportunity for a story. I don’t know about you, but it makes for a much more pleasant dining experience when it seems the staff care about nothing more than their diners having a good time.
Be careful not to fill up ahead of your dinner on the sumptuous bread basket; once you dig in it will be hard to stop yourself from completely polishing off the homemade focaccia and crispy fennel breadsticks. An amuse bouche arrived, the somewhat intriguing concept of a kind of octopus flavoured mayonnaise with a beetroot foam; sounds repulsive but rest assured it was quite the opposite.
We started with a plate of tender scallops accompanied with polenta, squid ink and lardo di colonnata, a combination I didn’t love but seemed to be a grower the more I tried it. A creamy, tangy burrata was accompanied with a satisfyingly crispy slice of capocollo (dried pig neck) though the cardoncelli mushrooms were slightly less flavourful.
With an a la carte menu covering pizza, pastas, meat and fish, choosing a main was no mean feat. Overwhelmed by choice I went for a classic, fuss-free pumpkin tortelli with butter, sage and truffle; delicate yet richly flavoured, incredibly moreish and certainly a rival to any similar I’ve had in Italy. While I can’t speak for the lamb chops, pumpkin puree and purple broccoli that was consumed on the other side of the table, the satisfied lip-smacking would appear to imply it was a successful choice.
Make sure to leave room for dessert; their tiramisu was quite possibly one of the best I’ve tried. Lighter than air, I thought the amount of cocoa atop the bubbly mousse would be too much but it was absolute perfection. It’s one pudding I’d make the pilgrimage again for.
Reviewed by Laurel
Published on Apr 9, 2018
In The News
Bella Cosa is extending the Eat Out To Help Out Offer
Enjoy the discount Sunday - Friday until the end of November!
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