Panino Giusto - Milano 1979

Panino Giusto, a Milanese restaurant of 34 years has opened its first doors in London. Specialising in the ‘panino’ (a small bread roll in Italian, and the correct term for the widely used panini sandwich), Panino Giusto praises itself on high quality produce sourced directly from Italy. Expect 24 month aged cured Parma ham, Tyrollian Speck and Braesola from Valtellina (salted beef), served on crusty bread from their Italian baker, drizzled with aromatic olive and truffle oils.

Franco Manca in Brixton Market

Outside - Picture thanks to www.twentysomethinglondon.com

Brixton Market is very much a fresh food market, but new restaurants are sprouting left right and centre amongst the fish mongers and the butchers alike. One such restaurant which budded its roots in this space is Franco Manca, and has been so popular that it has now spread to Clapham Junction, Stratford and Chiswick. Placed right next door to a fish mongers  the seating area spills out into the market row and is given an interesting feel to say the least. Industrial? This doesn’t stop the crowds lining up for a seat however, because Franco Manca’s pizza is said to be one of the best.

Forza Win Supper Club

One upon a time one Sebastian Redford (Bash) got in touch with some Pizza Pilgrims and Forza Win was born. A rooftop supper club for the summer of 2012 East London. Two pizza ovens later, and the boys went through some hardship when their first rooftop venue was shut down. But Forza Win have came back stronger and bolder with Bash at the helm of a super night out.

Sardinia Alghero

Sardinia is a great place to chill out with amazing food and picturesque scenery and a real feel of Italy. While staying in the old town the trek to the beach may have been slightly on the long side, but there was an immense amount of amazing restaurants all within walking distance. 


Although some of the restaurants which are located on the 'walled' part of the city could be considered as tourist traps (95% of the 'tourists' were Italian anyway), they still all delivered amazing fresh seafood, pizza and pasta. I was highly impressed by the selection, and here is just a few of the ones which I enjoyed and recommend.

Lake Como - Il Cominetto (Varenna)

Lake Como is a very beautiful place. Picturesque and peaceful. You would be able to drive around it in a day, however it will take you more than one day to explore all the wonderful towns around it. 

There are loads of restaurants to visit, but I always love recommendations. One of the recommendations was Il Cominetto, a small family run restaurant sat at the top of Varenna and dating back generations. We signed up to the cooking class.

The owner, Moreno, met us by the Varenna ferry and took us up the winding roads to Il Cominetto to reveal the stunning views down below.

The class started at 10.30am and continued with a full day of drinking fabulous wine while cooking Wild mushroom and apple Risotto, Tagliatelle and Tortelloni.

Moreno making Pasta

Osteria dell'arte

Sitting in Osteria with its light wooden tables, picture covered walls and the rustic bread/olive station, the general feeling is of Italian Nostalgia; cosy, homey and an expectation of good food.

Sale e Pepe - with smiling walls

One thing that really sprang to mind while dining at Sale e Pepe was that the service made me smile! Not a tight lip smile, or a fake smile, but a genuine toothy grin that sends happy thoughts to the brain. 

In the heart of Knightsbridge, right next to Harrods, Sale e Pepe has been there for over 30 years, but I could've sworn that I was in a family restaurant somewhere in the middle of Italy! The dining room was buzzing, and it truly felt like there was one waiter for each table. Red roses and white table cloths, where the staff  were at times louder than the diners while 'conducting' the dinner service.

Insalata Tricolore £10.50

Spuntino

An Italian word, Spuntino [a snack, small meal], is the name of the third restaurant to open in the Russel Norman empire. Others being Polpo, Polpetto and daPolpo. The name is fitting to the restaurant, as the menu is precise, with a clear point of sharing small plates of food. The diner/bar set up is true to its origins, as Italians don't go for a quick drink, they go for a quick pizza, and in Spuntino you sit at the bar only (yes only 20-something seats).

The design is rugged in a 'rough part of old town' kinda way, yet is 'cool' in every sense of the word: exposed brick and chipping tile, rusty looking, vintage, wrought iron features, yet a smooth steel finish on the bar and sophisticated woodwork as a polish. In short, the space itself makes you want to be there, it makes you want to come back, and it makes you want to have a beer!

da Polpo

Within a couple weeks of opening, daPolpo is already trending in 3rd spot on Urbanspoon's most talked about restaurants in London. The reason why it is the talk of the town is because it is the highly anticipated, fourth restaurant from restaurant entrepreneur Russel Norman (others being Polpo, Polpetto and Spuntino, and so far all highly successful). 

daPolpo is similar in its decor to the others, with bits of exposed brickwork, stainless steel bar tops with low overhanging lamps, and a general cosy atmosphere. The concept is simple; a traditional Venetian wine bar, with a New York edge. 

Polpo buzz

Please enjoy the 'buzz' of Polpo while reading:

Polpo, and the other restaurants in the family of Russel Norman (Spuntino, Polpetto and the now newly opened da Polpo) have long been the talk of the town, and finally came the day for me to delve into this buzz.

The funky 'diner' style of the long restaurant, with its wooden floors and tables, exposed brickwork and a low, green terracotta tiled ceiling gives this "Venetian wine bar" a cozy feel.