WE WALKED right past Il Peccatto and nearly missed it which would have been a shame because hidden under a web of scaffolding is one of Copenhagen’s most popular restaurants where a truly spectacular dining experience awaits.
Teutonic tones in Tuscany
WE VISITED on a busy Saturday night with what seemed to be the rest of Copenhagen, but despite the crowds we were seated at a table promptly. Think Germanic efficiency, not Italian lethargy – the restaurant’s front-of-house team run an impressively tight ship with polite, energetic and incredibly friendly service.
Il Peccatto’s location undoubtedly points to its popularity. Right next to Palads cinema, in all its pink and blue glory, it’s close to Vesterport station. This is an excellent culinary pitstop before heading to the movies or a show at Wallman’s Circus.
The restaurant was packed, and while we pondered the antipasti I soaked up some ambiance and olive oil with our complimentary bread. Spread over a large open-plan dining area were snugly-arranged tables with many families and couples. At the heart of Il Peccatto is the mesmerising kitchen where you can watch chefs tossing pizzas and throwing together all sorts of Italian dishes.
Fit for the Sistine Chapel
WITH A perfectly chilled glass of sparkling Opale wine, I opted for the Antipasto misto (100kr), a delicious sample of Italian nibbles, while my partner went for the caprese salad (95kr). The presentation was impressive; neatly arranged tomatoes were served with mozzarella, drizzled artistically with balsamic – Michelangelo would have approved!
My selection was served on a large slate to make room for each savoury treat. It started with an enchanting combination of veal with tuna sauce and finished with a nutty courgette parcel. In between was a delightful fish terrine on crispy rugbrød, cheese and peppery salami, and a miniature caprese sample. The salad option was exquisite, but I think my choice clinched it with its superb variety of flavoursome morsels.
We’d been holding out all day, so our hostess recommended Il Peccatto’s sizeable pizzas while I went for the popular honey glazed duck breast (199kr). Although the Tronchetto pizza (110kr) arrived a little chilly, fresh rocket, tomatoes and thin slivers of ham made for a tasty dish with a classic crispy base. The duck was spot on. A mustardy sauce with roasted baby potatoes accompanied the Campari marinated slices. We washed all this down with a fruity Torre del Barone red wine packed with plum flavours and rich notes.
Not too fat after duck
TO ROUND off our Italian adventure we squeezed in a perfectly-sized dessert. Things went all Heston Blumental with the tiramisu, served in a plant pot with sprouting a sprig of basil. Loaded with amaretto liqueur, the espresso soaked cake-soil was an interesting twist on this timeless Italian dessert. Il Peccato proved its Italian salt – or rather sweet – with the exquisite trio of gelato I opted for.
For top notch nosh just a stone’s throw from many of Copenhagen’s best venues, Il Peccatto guarantees a delectable start to any evening in the city.
Axeltorv 8, Cph V; open daily Mon 12:00-24:00, kitchen closes at 23:00 most nights; starters from 125kr, mains 249-269kr, pizzas 125-169kr; info@il-peccato.dk, 3393 9903; il-peccato.dk
