Having read extensive praise of Russell Norman’s, aka the “King of Small Plates”, many restaurants (Spuntino, Polpo Soho, Polpetto, Mishkin’s, and Polpo Covent Garden) and how people wait in line for an hour and half for a seat, I was thrilled to hear that one was opening up in Notting Hill. Hot off the heels … Continue reading Polpo
Category: Italian
Burro e Salvia
In the mood for a bowl of pasta, my companions and I headed to Burro e Salvia on Lordship Lane for a start of the week treat. Named after a classic accompaniment to stuffed pasta – butter and sage – this café is the East Dulwich branch of its original Shoreditch home. Serving almost nothing … Continue reading Burro e Salvia
Santoré
I'd been wanting to go on a jaunt to the foodie mecca that is Exmouth Market for some time and now that I worked a stone's throw away, an after-work dinner with a friend was the perfect opportunity. With so many restaurants on offer on this one street, we were spoilt for choice. Given our … Continue reading Santoré
Café Murano
Café Murano, described as the "brassier, naughtier younger sister" of the Michelin-starred Murano, is the creation of the ever-inspiring force that is Angela Hartnett. Having enjoyed excellent meals at her other ventures, including The Merchant's Tavern and the recently revamped restaurant in Hampshire’s Limewood Hotel, I had high expectations of this "café". And it did … Continue reading Café Murano
Vico
In a quest to bring authentic Italian street food to London, Jacob Kenedy had opened Vico in busy Cambridge Circus. Describing itself as a “vibrant and welcoming destination for authentic, delicious and inexpensive Italian dining”, my companion and I couldn’t resist a trip to the sister restaurant of Bocca di Lupo to celebrate a new … Continue reading Vico
Padella
“We’ve travelled all over Italy, through people’s kitchens as well as it’s most famous pasta restaurants, and having rolled enough pappardelle to get to Rome and back, Padella will serve the absolute Don Daddies from our 10 year love affair with Italy’s most famous dish!” Padella – which means pan in Italian – is the … Continue reading Padella
Santa Maria
In the theme of Spring soft launches, a pizza-themed one was unmissable for both my family and I, especially as this one was at Santa Maria pizzeria which has recently set up shop in Chelsea. Santa Maria has a renowned reputation. Within weeks of the opening of its original branch in Ealing back in 2010 – … Continue reading Santa Maria
Zia Lucia
Charcoal base, gluten-free and a soft launch: the perfect ingredients for a pizza prepared in honour of an Italianate looking mummy – “Auntie Lucia”. Islington’s Zia Lucia brings Londoners a truly new way to enjoy pizza. By combining a special selection of unique doughs – rare in the London pizza scene – with a flair … Continue reading Zia Lucia
Homeslice
Nearing the top of my list of London’s best pizza is Homeslice. Like Pizza Pilgrims, Homeslice began life as a market stall, serving slices fired in a homebuilt wood-fired oven at street food markets across east London. Following two nomadic years, they brought their wood-fired pizza from the streets to their first permanent home in … Continue reading Homeslice
Franco Manca
Having feasted on many pizzas at Franco Manca, a post-facto review of this iconic and immensely popular pizzeria is on the table. If you thought great pizza began and ended in Italy, think again. Indeed, my first pizza at Franco Manca was a sort of “pizza awakening” for me and inspired me to begin my … Continue reading Franco Manca
Yumtini 