There are few chefs as beloved in London as Francesco Mazzei. No one else has opened our eyes to the true face of Italian food in the way that he has, and his cooking has astonished and delighted thousands since his arrival in London in 2008. Francesco’s journey has come a long way from the doors of his first restaurant L'Anima, but his food is as exceptional as ever.

Fiume – Italian for ‘river’ – is aptly named and aptly placed in Battersea Power Station’s Circus West Village. Diners can choose between the large outdoor piazza or an indoor dining room, both with glorious views over the Thames.

Francesco himself will oversee the restaurant as chef-patron, splitting his time between Fiume and his other wonderful restaurants Sartoria and Radici. Meanwhile, Francesco Chiarelli – who has worked with Francesco at L’Anima and Sartoria – will oversee the kitchen full time. The two don’t just share a forename, they share Calabrian heritage too – Francesco Chiarelli was head chef at Calabria’s Ariha Hotel before joining the brigade at L’Anima.

As a result, the fare at Fiume is typical of southern Italy, and pays homage to the food of the ‘Mezzogiorno’ – Italy’s southern boot – not just Calabria, but also Sicily, Sardinia and all the way up to Abruzzo. The menu opens up with a tempting selection of cicchetti and antipasti, before delving into the main events – primi such as burrata tortelli with hazelnuts and sage and secondi including classics like aubergine parmigiana, beef tagliata and seafood fregola.

Fiume’s wine list is a who’s who of Italian wine, with fantastic bottles from all over the country represented. Meanwhile, Francesco Mazzei has struck up a collaboration once again with Simone Caporale – former International Bartender of the Year in 2014 – to devise a new and exciting cocktail menu for guests to enjoy under the lemon and olive trees on Fiume’s terrace.