Simple Italian fair served in a warm and homely setting with friendly service and unthreatening prices making it an ideal place to pass a lazy weekend afternoon or a relaxing evening with family or friends.

The Venue
Set in the Lower Richmond Road, Blades is a pretty unassuming family-run Italian restaurant which might easily go unnoticed unless happened across or brought to your attention. Tucked away on a corner, this little haunt has a simple blue and white frontage. Once inside you could easily feel like you’ve stepped into the home of an old Italian couple set in the heart of a traditional village in Italy. The lighting is reasonably low, the furniture mediocre and the place is adorned with unpretentious pictures and photographs set against the wood-panelled and brick walls which add to the cosy and homely feel.

The Atmosphere
Enticed to Blades is a collection of mostly Putney locals – romantic couples young and old, lively groups of friends, large and small families with babies and older children in tow. It’s a tight squeeze wheeling in awkwardly-sized pushchairs but the staff do all they can to accommodate their tiny, and more adult, guests. All are made to feel very welcome by the more than hospitable staff. There is certainly a buzzy ambiance credited to the gentle banter occurring at each of the tables, and against this is the subtle backdrop of thirties jazz which maintains the laid back ease in the atmosphere.

The Food
As you weave and wend your way past the tightly-placed tables and chairs, you will witness the fresh meat and fish on display. Once seated, you’re promptly offered a small basketful of ciabatta and baguette chunks along with a healthy lump of real butter to nibble while the menu is perused. Starters on offer include tomato, mozzarella and rocket salad with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, garlic mushrooms or risotto with porcini mushrooms. The main menu lists dishes such as petto di pollo con funghi di bosco (breast of chicken with wild mushrooms, truffles and cream) and gamberino con aglio and prezzemolo (prawns with garlic and parsley butter).

Highly recommended is the chicken pizzaiola, a delicately cooked fillet seeped in a white-wine based tomato sauce that has been tantalisingly seasoned with oregano and capers. Also rather sumptuous is the surprisingly moist turkey breast in the form of Turkey Milanese which is perfectly partnered with sauteed potatoes and an appetising array of al dente vegetables. After such a tasting, room should certainly be spared for a dessert of which some of the choices are tiramisu or slices of plump, juicy mango alongside a melt-in-your-mouth serving of lemon sorbet. There’s a meal to suit all budgets with dishes ranging from £6.25 for a pasta main to about £16 for a meaty steak for the more extravagant. Depending on your choice of wines and number of courses, prices per head can range from £20 to £30.

The Drink
An impressive array of red and white wines and Champagnes from across the globe. The house white is light and refreshing and makes a fitting accompaniment for chicken and turkey dishes; a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay will set you back around £15 and a bottle of Sancerre is £20. The most expensive wines are around the £50 price tag.

The Last Word
Don’t be put off by the decor. What might seem like a lacklustre cafe is in fact a rather amiable and homely establishment offering impeccable service and classic, good quality, Italian cuisine.

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