London’s ‘villages’ have long been notorious for being small coves of wealth that somehow manage to push themselves away from the city’s usual display of riches.

Instead, they downplay their opulence, as if to keep these peaceful areas a secret.

But of course nothing stays a secret in this city for long, and take one stroll through Hampstead or Wimbledon and you’ll recognise you're in the realm of the city’s answer to country living.

This area is no exception. Take a short stroll from Parson’s Green station, past the pubs where men in brightly-coloured trousers stand outside, along Fulham Road and into a side street which brings you to C’Alice.

getwestlondon escaped the hustle of more central areas to the quieter streets along Fulham Road

The three-month-old restaurant is slick, with double doors beckoning people into their eatery. Smiling staff talk you through their aperitif cocktails (we choose bellinis and white wine aperitif spritzers) which we enjoy outside in the light summer breeze.

There is little doubt C’alice knows its wine. And there is a lot of it, all of which, our waiter was quick to point out, should be devoured.

It's all very European al fresco - and we aren't complaining.

C'Alice is a slick new addition to Fulham, but one which is as steeped in culinary history as it is modern in appearance

We move inside and my companion has calamari to start, which was immediately branded as “one of the best” - a high compliment from someone who chooses calamari almost every time it appears on a menu.

I try the panelle e crocche (“sorry, how do you pronounce it?”), which is a Sicilian speciality - chickpea flour fritters and potato croquettes.

It’s clear they know their clientele well. It’s not oily, the vegetables are fresh, well seasoned and it’s a light starter, a well planned menu given the richness of the main courses.

Risotto is as hit and miss as a bottle of house white. Getting a house bottle will either remind you of something you first drank in a park aged 15 or tingle your tastebuds with each sip.

C’Alice carried off both superbly, the wine refreshing and the risotto of the day - four cheese - a spoonful of pearly heaven with each bite, all without being too overwhelming.

The tuna steak delighted my companion, who said it was a truly delicious addition to have Sicilian bronte pistachio crust sprinkled on the tuna.

By this point the struggle to make space for dessert was glaring at us, but it would only be rude to refuse homemade tiramisu or the il tortino di alice - a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream.

It exceeds expectations, oozes with creamy chocolate perfectly complementing the vanilla. I nab a spoonful of my companion’s tiramisu, which is not too sharp, flavoursome and a generous helping.

Stuffed, we politely refuse coffees, reluctantly, as we have no doubt they would be as excellent as the food has been.

Strolling out of the restaurant, content and peaceful, we appreciate its ability to slip into the area’s beauty with a subtleness similar to London’s villages.

Just as well, because C’Alice is one of the city’s undiscovered, unpretentious food beauties, and we’d keep it that way.

The verdict

getwestlondon gives C'Alice four stars out of five.