Tag Archives: Italian

La Tagliata, Liverpool Street

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The best Italian restaurants are often the simplest – little, unpretentious eateries that only offer a few specialities and service with a smile. This is exactly what you will find at La Tagliata, a new Italian establishment near Liverpool Street.

The restaurant is named after the main dish served here… La Tagliata is a traditional Italian steak dish – sliced meat with potatoes, rocket and tomatoes, rustic but delicious when done well. The team here is passionate about offering high quality Italian food without the endless menu options and complications. Manager Carlo Palumbo brings his much-loved family recipes to the table, while executive chef Antonio Tonelli brings the experience and techniques he has learned from working in southern Italian kitchens since the age of 13.

Choose between just a main course for £19, a starter and main for £24 or three courses for £29. For first course there is a choice of four seasonal sauces with daily homemade tagliatelle. The sauce options when we visited were: pomodoro, limone, ragu and pesto and the special for the week, white truffle. Unable to decide on just two the lovely Carlo let us taste three, omitting the basic tomato pomodoro and ragu. Pesto is classic and flavoursome, truffle felt indulgent and special, but the limone was our favourite, a light and creamy sauce, originally from Capri, made with egg yolk, lemon and parmesan.

For vegetarians there is a Scamorza cheese and porcini mushroom option to replace the Tagliata. Though I would urge everyone to try the delicious steak: thinly sliced meat with a wonderfully seasoned chargrilled edge, topped with fresh peppery rocket, the sweetest cherry tomatoes, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and thick shavings of parmesan. We tasted both the herby roasted potatoes and the lesser known shepherd’s potato (crushed and seasoned). If I had to recommend one I’d say go for the roasted as the taste and texture is so appealing.

For dessert there are a few classic Italian dishes: cheese, pannacotta or tiramisu. If you are a fan of coffee and cream I urge you to order tiramisu, a glass of pillowy sweet cream and sponge.

La Tagliata represents the best things about Italian culture; passion, pasta and parmesan. There’s not much that can go wrong with these ingredients, and this little start-up manages to exceed expectations bringing some humble authenticity to an overcrowded chain restaurant ridden area of London.

More information here: www.la-tagliata.com

Polpetto, Soho

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Once I had flights booked and accommodation organised for my trip to Venice, I knew I needed to enlist the help of one man for food and drink suggestions. Russell Norman, is a restauranteur who knows the streets of Venice better than most. His enormously popular eateries in London showcase his knowledge and experience, and the recently reopened Polpetto is my favourite.

The Venetian culinary traditions are different to that of most Italian cities: they eat early, graze frequently on snacks, and have a tendency to avoid pizza and pasta. Norman translates these traditions perfectly in his Soho venues, and the constant queues illustrate his success with the British public.

Polpetto opened in 2010 and originally occupied the first floor of the French House pub on Dean Street. It attracted critical acclaim and gained a massive following. But the venue proved too small and the restaurant’s 24 seats were always oversubscribed. It closed in May 2012.

After a year of searching for the right location, Russell Norman and Richard Beatty have relocated the restaurant to Berwick Street. The venue boasts 60 seats, an aperitivo bar, an open kitchen and a chef’s table. In addition, Florence Knight returns to the London dining scene as executive head chef. Florence continues to show off her meticulous seasonality and creative simplicity.

It is easy to relax and unwind in the comfortable eatery. Small crooked wooden tables and chairs are humbly arranged, with paper menus and stylishly plain cutlery, plates and glasses. It is the simplest dishes that really excel here. The food tastes so fresh you could be eating in the Rialto food market in Venice. I loved the vibrant ruby red tomato salad, the gooey creamy and burrata with agretti (a small and thin succulent green shrub) and chilli, speckled with exemplary olive oil. Everything here is for sharing, a practice some foodies may find difficult particularly when it comes to the addictively good main courses, like hare pappardelle, a bowl of ultimate comfort food. The wine list focusses on young wines of the Veneto, reasonably priced and very drinkable, you can order by the glass or opt for a bottle.

After visiting Venice and partaking in their glorious traditions, I can look at my experience at Polpetto with a new appreciation. Tremendously tasty food and an inspiring concept.

More information here: polpetto.co.uk

Mayfair Pizza Co, Mayfair

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I thought there was nothing left to discover in Mayfair. London’s poshest streets are awash with glossy art galleries, designer clothes shops and expensive fine eateries, so when I got an email about Mayfair Pizza Co my interest was ignited. Located in the idyllic car-free courtyard of Lancashire Court, it is a popular place for professional locals to gather for an after work drink or supper with friends.

A slim staircase leads to an airy high ceilinged room, rustic wooden tables are lined up with plush blue-grey velvet chairs. It is a mix of Italian tradition and British style. The attractively stored wine bottles looked very tempting but delicate glasses of fizzy arrived, a Bellini for me. The very drinkable house Prosecco is priced at £5 a flute, though be warned it is quite addictive.

The menu features a selection of Italian antipasti and starters, simple pasta dishes and a range of creative pizzas. Bitesize Black truffle and mozzarella arancini balls were delightful. Trialling the counter artisan meats and cheeses was definitely a good idea, these delicacies are top quality. I would particularly recommend the Speck di Montagne, Burratina and rich and flavoursome Wild boar salami.

A few pizzas caught my eye, there is certainly a good variety on offer. Caprina is a lovely summery option with mozzarella, goat’s cheese, red peppers, rocket and parmesan, whilst meat eaters will devour the Salami, chorizo, Parma ham and pancetta. The kitchen kindly added extra red onion and nduja spicy sausage when we enquired about it. Additional pizza toppings are charged at £2 each; pizzas are priced between £8 and £16. The bases are medium thickness and toppings are distributed evenly throughout. The cheese is generous and I really loved the fresh crunchy rocket and salty parmesan on my pizza. The meat variety was a little overwhelming, I loved the chorizo and parma ham but wasn’t keen on the salami which tasted too salty and processed.

Dessert caused quite a conundrum, there were three we wanted. Promising to make smaller portion sizes we ordered all three. Nutella Calzone with marshmallow and crushed hazelnuts was a boy’s pudding, thick dough that squelches with a gooey sweet filling. Hardcore Italian food fans will enjoy the Tiramisu, though I found the proportion of cream to sponge wasn’t quite right… there was too much cream to get through. The salted caramel chocolate pot is little and luxurious, smooth and rich fondant-like mousse topped with crackling popping candy and chocolate crumbs.

Pizza and Prosecco are two of my favourite things and I can’t think of a nicer place to enjoy these indulgences than Mayfair Pizza Co.

More information and book here: www.mayfairpizzaco.com