The Italian restaurant in East London is as diverse as the food-loving country itself, from old-school dishes to new-style small plates, and of course, the best homemade pasta. Whether you want fresh appetizers, steaming risotto rice bowls, hearty stews or hearty tiramisu, here are the best Italian restaurants in London. Pull a stool for an aperitif, find a cosy candlelit corner or set up a large table for a family party. For more Italian inspiration, check out our best pizza places in London.
Bella Cosa
is well established Italian restaurant near me in
the London restaurant list, where friends, couples and colleagues gather around
tables filled with Sicilian street food and fresh pasta in Canary
Wharf. Starters are not an afterthought to the mains here. The creamy
burrata is wrapped in slices of beet petals and the ndujaarancini comes with a
kick, though the leeks, walnuts, taleggio and gorgonzola tortafritta - gooey
with the crunch of the seeds - are the climax. We found it hard to resist the
cacio e pepe on the menu, and the Noci was as good as butter.
While the
sweet scallops and pancetta pappardelle smothered in cavolonero sauce is
memorable, we'll be back for the silk handkerchiefs dotted with wild mushrooms
and the rich egg yolk filling. Campania serves a mix of traditional and
contemporary artisanal hearty Southern Italian recipes.
The menu
changes daily depending on what's fresh and available, though there are a few
popular ones: the pleasant pappardelleragu and the cheese gnudi balls drenched
in butter and sage. We recommend ordering the Hackney wild bread with olive oil
to start and a large bowl of fresh pasta. As for the pudding, you'll want to
try the rich homemade tiramisu. With only a few precious blankets, Campania
quickly fills up, but the tables stretch out onto the street in the summer for
alfresco dining, and in the winter, heated outdoor tables keep fingers warm.
You can also try the Italian takeaways near me at the Bella Cosa restaurant.
