Ante and Ombretta
Fine Italian wines, excellent Croatian cuisine, a warm welcome and two thoroughly charming hosts…
‘It was our dream to have a wine bar,’ smiles Ombretta Barboni. ‘Ante and I knew that we had the knowledge, experience and passion. So we thought, let’s make a change in our lives and go for it. We opened three months ago: we want the Winehouse to be a friendly neighbourhood bar where customers meet, feel welcomed and are looked after.’
Located near the junction of Fulham Road and Fulham Palace Road, Ombretta & Ante’s Winehouse is surely unique in being London’s only Italian-Croatian establishment. The couple definitely have all the hospitality bases covered. Originally from Milan, Ombretta studied to become a sommelier and managed restaurants in the UK and Italy; Ante Zuban is from Split in Croatia, where his family owned bars and he trained as a chef.
‘We serve a mix of Croatian and Italian dishes, many of which you won’t find elsewhere,’ says Ante, who handles the culinary side (he has also begun running cookery demos, such as bread-making, in the kitchen).
‘The focus is on charcuterie and cheese boards featuring, for example, Dalmatian prosciutto, Pag Island cheese, Cevapi (grilled beef mince with sweet spices), Adriatic tuna pâté and homemade Italian focaccia. I also recommend Vis Island Pie, a traditional recipe from my mother of sardines, tomato and onions, and Cupavci cakes (coconut sponge) which are made by a lovely Croatian lady.’
Ombretta has put together a first-class wine list for every budget (Italian with a few Croatian additions) and all bottles are sold by the glass. ‘In particular, Cannonau di Sardegna, a full bodied red from Sardinia, and our Sauvignon Blanc from Trentino and Sicilian Chardonnay are popular,’ she says. ‘We also have guest beers, Croatian shots, Italian liqueurs and regular live Friday night music.
‘We already feel at home here. We’ve met so many lovely people and taken bookings for private parties and corporate events (maximum capacity 25). Do come and say hello, we look forward to meeting you.’
Ombretta & Ante’s Winehouse
770 Fulham Road
Fulham SW6 5SJ
020 7731 0626
contact@ombrettawinehouse.co.uk
Photographs: #doris_heinrich_photography
