Shoreditch, Italian Restaurant Guide

“Delicious tiny plates of interesting and seasonal Italian dishes” plus low-intervention wines delight diners at Jon Lawson’s “casual and vibey small Shoreditch place”, which – post Covid – is re-establishing its very impressive all-round ratings. “It’s just a really great place to go: grab a seat at the kitchen bar and watch lovely food being expertly prepared”.

“Slightly mad” but irresistible – “I’ve not known anyone leave unhappy”, squeal fans of Paris-based Big Mamma Group’s original London site, which is a “fun and partyish” slice of OTT, retro Italian pastiche on a Shoreditch corner-site filled with plants and nostalgic Amalfi-coast-inspired bric-a-brac. The rich food from a large, traditional Italian menu – with plenty of pizza and pasta alongside grills and salads – isn’t at all ‘foodie’ but is certainly filling and good value.

“No-one, and I mean no-one who I’ve taken here, has ever said a bad word; and moreover, many have returned separately. It’s my No. 1 ‘go-to’ for casual dining with friends, whose subsequent advocacy says it all!” – Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda struck gold with this “constantly busy” duo of superior pasta pitstops, which are rightly famous on social media and one of London’s ultimate cheap eats. They offer “the best fresh pasta” (which you can watch being made through the windows from early morning on) “at great value prices, which is why they are sooo popular: why you must book well in advance in EC2” or expect to queue in SE1 (“which operates an effective virtual queuing system”).

The food of Emilia-Romagna is the inspiration for this Italian duo in Shoreditch and Fitzrovia. They major in pasta, with sliced meats, cheeses and wines from the region as back-up, and all reports say the food is of a good standard.

“The energy is fab” at this “busy and buzzy” Mayfair haunt, whose large central bar, pavement tables and green leather stools import a sense of chic Italian glamour to this corner-site a minute from Bond Street. The Italian food (cicchetti, risotti, pastas, traditional mains) doesn’t detract from the occasion, but is “highly priced for average quality”, albeit “all decent”; and “service can suffer when it’s over-busy”. Nowadays part of Soho House, its branches spread from Berlin to West Hollywood, via the City of London (in The Ned). Comments on the latter aren’t terrible, but less enthusiastic than those for W1.

“Big and loud” – this 42,000 sq ft behemoth is part of Oscar Farinetti’s 40+ strong global chain showcasing Italian produce. Many folks “love wandering around and trying all the different snacks available (a great date activity!)” and there seems to be no doubt that “it provides well above-average food”; but there’s also a widespread acceptance that for a lingering meal, it’s “lacking in atmosphere”. Top eat-in option? “Bloody good pizza” with “crisp base and good toppings… why do other places find this so hard?”

At the heart of the brutalist Barbican complex (with views of the internal lake) this arts-centre amenity is, fans say, “a better-than-you’d expect place”: “a nice restaurant with good service and a range of choices to suit most tastes”. Possibly this is true, but, arguably, this is also an indictment of the modest level of expectations of most Britons towards their institutions and top caterers (in this case, Searcy’s).

This modern Italian bar/restaurant by Spitalfields is consistently well-rated in all feedback. There’s a continued theme from last year, however, that even fans of its antipasti, pasta and grills from the Josper oven can find it plain “overpriced”.

Chris Leach and David Carter’s “of-the-minute hot-spot is still packing ’em in” to this “Shoreditch icon”, where “some lovely Italian dishes propel it above your ordinary Italian place”: “small plates of interesting pastas, salads and exceptional meats” (the latter often “cured on the premises”). “The utilitarian seating and the too-small tables are not designed for lingering, but they are still failing to put off the hordes heading to its unlovely location in trendy old Shoreditch. Book ahead”. Top Menu Tip – “the brown crab Cacio e Pepe remains one of those legendary dishes that you have to try”.