Easy to pass but not to be missed. Situated off the main drag of Putney High Street, Artisans of Sardinia is a welcome surprise. Its offering is entirely Sardinian, local and seasonal, describing its food and wine as exclusively from Sardinia, produced by local artisans. It has a uniqueness and aspires to quality first.
Recently renovated, it is modern but warm, stylish and tastefully decorated, with corks a bit of a theme. You get a sense that this is a place where the food, wine and total experience matter. With about 20 covers, and a downstairs private room for 8, it is cosy but not too intimate. When reasonably full one imagines quite a buzz. The owner and sommelier is Massimo, and with his wife Sue this is a family affair. An open kitchen allows the chef to mingle occasionally. The service was attentive and timely.
The menu is small and, in many ways, special: a few starters, such as octopus or wild pig ham with figs; five or six pastas – they say the pasta and breads are made fresh on the day; a couple of main courses; and a couple of desserts. At lunchtime on Mondays to Saturdays there is a shorter set menu. A very good meal was enjoyed. The wines by the glass, all Sardinian, were excellent, and a real effort seems to be made to provide a memorable experience.
The a la carte menu is quite pricey, and for big eaters some portions may not be quite enough. The set menu looks good value for money. Reviews of the restaurant are generally very favourable, with some concern over price. For some this could be a little Sardinian gem and one can imagine it building a cadre of regulars for whom a warm welcome matters. Unusual and definitely worth trying as quality and small menus of freshly prepared food are not easily found.
