CENT ANNI INAUGURAL NEWSLETTER

In August 2001 I bought  Cafe Med in St. John’s Wood and continued to run it as the local Mediterranean restaurant.

In February 2026, after an extensive refurbishment, I reimagined and relaunched it as Cent Anni, a modern Italian restaurant.

But why Italian, I am continually asked. For the answer to that we have to go back to the very beginning.

Angelo De Fazio was born in Filignano, Italy in 1903 and emigrated with his parents to the UK. After some time he met, and married Sheena Learmonth, a beautiful Scottish lady and they had a son, Raymond - me.

Fast forward to May 2019 and as a tribute to my father and to the food I grew up eating in the family home, I opened an Italian restaurant in Wimbledon Village, Cent Anni. Following its success, in February 2026 I transformed Cafe Med into Cent Anni, Loudoun Road, St. John’s Wood.

So, my very first memory of food was eating Italian food in the family home and it is the the food that I grew up with and I know the best, I also wanted to pay homage to my father’s memory.

I hope that you like the refurbished restaurant and the new menu as much as I do.

In closing I would just like to thank all of the many regular customers who helped make Cafe Med in St John’s Wood the success that it was for over 25 years. Thank you, and I hope to see you all again at Cent Anni sometime soon.

Kind regards,

Raymond De Fazio

Ps. As we head into Autumn I have some exciting events to look forward to, including wine tastings/dinners, new dishes for the colder months and of course our Christmas menu. I will keep you updated in forthcoming newsletters, as well as on our website and instagram.