A buzzy, sleek, and deeply affordable Italian spot where securing a seat at the counter for fresh, hand-made pasta is a London essential.
Ordering Strategy
Sit at the bar to watch the chefs at work. Start with the honeyed garlic focaccia and share a few small antipasti before diving straight into two or three of the highly affordable pasta plates.
What to order
Silk Handkerchiefs with Walnut Butter & Confit Egg Yolk
The undisputed signature dish; described as 'casually orgasmic,' it features paper-thin sheets of pasta draped in a 'heavenly,' 'sticky, nutty, gritty mess of butter.'
Spicy Pork and 'Nduja Ragù with Mafalde
A boss-level umami bomb that is a consistent favorite among reviewers for its 'rich,' 'spicy,' and 'punchy' flavors that cling perfectly to the pasta.
Charred Hispi Cabbage with Garlic and Chilli
A 'truly great' side dish that punches above its weight with a 'vampire-obliterating dose of garlic' and a 'vibrant thwack of chilli.'
Braised Cuttlefish with Saffron Polenta Balls
A 'classy dish' of coal-coloured rings that offer a 'subtle, sweet oceanic depth'—perfect for those looking to deviate from the standard pasta options.
What to skip
More in Covent Garden
- BagerietSwedish Bakery · £90
- The BarbaryNorth African / Middle Eastern · £££90
- ToklasMediterranean · £££89
Signal Score
Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.
Top critic: Grace Dent (90%)
Editorial Weight 55 pts
Authority + depth + recency
Agreement 8 pts
How aligned the critics are
Coverage 10 pts
How many real review signals exist
Public Signal 9 pts
Google rating + volume
Boosts 0 pts
Manual boosts + hidden gem
Review signals
3 Elite · 1 Editorial · 7 total signals
Public signal
4.4★ (3,700 reviews)
Good to know
It's extremely popular, so book well in advance. While Covent Garden is the flagship with a private dining room upstairs, they also have equally impressive branches in Soho, Borough Yards, and Kensington.
Locations
Trust signals
- ○Not yet visited
- mediumConfidence level
More Italian in London
- Gloria££95· Shoreditch
- Padella£93· Southwark
- Popolo Shoreditch££90· Shoreditch
- Jacuzzi££££89· Kensington
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