The world’s best pizza chef has picked his five favourite Italian restaurants in London.
Michele Pascarella, from Caserta, Italy, was crowned the best pizza maker in the world in 2023. While you might expect him to still be based in his homeland and the birthplace of pizza, Pascarella actually lives in London.
It’s in the English capital that he runs his pizzeria, Napoli on the Road, which last year was named in the best in Europe by the ‘Michelin Guide for Pizzas.’
So, there is perhaps no one better to listen to when it comes to the best Italian restaurants in London.
In an interview with the Times, Pascarella named his favourite spots for a taste of home.
These are the five locations which made the cut:
Ombra, Bethnal Green
Pascarella told the Times: “The food here is amazing. I don’t really like pasta that’s overcomplicated or overloaded, with lots of cream, lots of salt or lots of seasoning and that’s why I love Ombra: it’s really simple and high quality. The menu changes almost every week and the pasta is always made fresh on the day — so delicious.”
Brutto, Farringdon
Pascarella recommends the “traditional tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo, bistecca alla fiorentina” and a “very good raviolo and a crisp, green salad — perfect.”
Pophams Pasta Restaurant, London Fields
“It’s not an Italian restaurant per se but the chef is from Puglia and the pasta is very good,” Pascarella said. “When I went I had a tagliatelle, but more curly, with a simple, perfect tomato sauce. I love this kind of pasta.”
Manteca, Shoreditch
Pascarella said he “Ioves the feel of the place, the design, the open kitchen, the atmosphere, the location.”
“I knew it was going to be good as soon as I tried the bread,” he added.
Santo Mare, Marylebone
The place for seafood, Pascarella said: “It’s super fresh, comes in from Italy almost every day and you can go up and choose which fish you want from the big counter.”
You can read the full piece on The Times website here.
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