“PASTA HEAVEN!”

Verdict: 8/10
Location: London Bridge/ Borough Market
Price: £20 for two courses and a drink

After my trips to Venice and Rome earlier this year I’ve become a massive fan of Italian pasta bars – small and crowded with a minimalist interior, but serving simple, fresh pasta with a limited choice of maybe 5 sauces, all cooked to perfection! So I was super excited to hear that a pasta bar of similar concept was opening in London.

Padella is great, it’s a tiny restaurant with a relaxed yet elegant vibe. The menu is small, with maybe 6 starters, 8 mains and 2 desserts. The pasta and all ingredients are really fresh – if you’re lucky you might even get seated at the bar stools overlooking the open plan kitchen so you can watch the chefs at work.

The plates are small, so perfect for sharing or trying multiple dishes. And VERY reasonably priced. A glass of prosecco at £4 is almost unheard of in London!

I tried the pici with marjoram and golden garlic, and the taglierni with slow cooked tomato sauce. The first was particularly delectable, featuring a very cheesy and garlicky sauce.

This was followed by the chocolate tart, which had a soft and crumbly biscuit base. We weren’t too sure about the cream on the side, but the tart itself was delicious all the same.

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, which changes regularly. However, like most high-demand and small restaurants these days, they have a no reservation policy so it’s best to arrive early to avoid the queues!

This place is about as close as I’ll get to my favourite pasta bars in Italy for now, so I’ll definitely be back!

Restaurant Details:

Address: 6 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TQ

Website: http://www.padella.co