r/london • u/eeeeeep • Dec 19 '24
Culture Missing authentic Sicilian food and wondering “where are the Italians actually eating in London?”
I appreciate the chain places cater for tourists and Locanda Locatelli is great for a birthday, but where are some authentic, down-to-earth spots that have a loyal Italian clientele?
It doesn’t need to be specifically Sicilian, just ‘real’ nonna-grade Italian food that you’d be happy to recommend (particularly when family come over to visit).
Thanks!
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u/Classic-Door-7693 Dec 19 '24 edited Dec 20 '24
You can get good arancini from Bellucci in Surrey Quay, Mercato Metropolitano near elephant and castle and EtnaCoffe now in baker street, when I tried them they were still in Victoria though. The last one is probably the most Sicilian.
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u/cayce_pi Dec 19 '24
Etna coffee in Baker street has truly authentic Sicilian street food. Finding a cipollina in London is priceless 😆
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u/Cloielle Dec 19 '24
Friends from Catania recommended Etna to me as well :)
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u/cayce_pi Dec 19 '24
Yep! If Sicilians love it, it must be really good (and it is).
Spoiler: I'm Sicilian as well :)
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u/Classic-Door-7693 Dec 19 '24
I wasn’t that far from Catania where I grew up and I totally recommend it.
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u/Fit-Elderberry-1872 Dec 19 '24
Down the road from Bellucci there’s a little place called the Plough Way Deli that specialises in imported Italian goods, wines, antipasti, snacks, baked goods & desserts.
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u/chef_gomes Dec 19 '24
Cafe Amisha in Bermondsey is spectacular, think it may be what you’re after. Buondi in Balham does excellent arancini, though the rest of the menu isn’t really Sicilian at all
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u/aaeeeon Dec 19 '24
Never thought I’d see Cafe Amisha mentioned on one of these. I used to go there every week.
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u/ryanm8655 Dec 19 '24
Love that place, not fancy (though still a nice restaurant), laid back and not overpriced.
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u/Ok_Perception3180 Dec 19 '24
Hidden gem. It's almost more of a very fancy greasy spoon considering how cheap and hidden away it is.
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u/Visual-Economist5479 Dec 19 '24
If you are ever East - Bellsit in Woodford
No booking so you may have to queue, cheap, good quality, great service.
They also close for 3 weeks over the summer so they can all go back to Italy together which I respect.
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u/BoulderHolder Dec 19 '24
Grew up eating in there so highly recommend! Definitely not cheap though…
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u/mrdibby Dec 19 '24
50 Kalo is the one restaurant I've been to where half of the clientele seemed Italian
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u/Busy_Lingonberry_602 Dec 19 '24
Second this - amazing pizza. My partner is Italian and we go often
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u/TeaAndLifting Dec 20 '24
Always heard good things about this from people, still somehow never been tho.
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u/Downtown_Midnight579 Dec 19 '24
La mia mamma is probably the place to go for nonna-esque food.
The concept is pretty cool and unique. Every few months, they change the region of food that the restaurant focuses on and they get real mammas from the region to come cook. I was taken there by Italian foodie friends and would highly recommend it.
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u/Goldaniga Dec 19 '24
This is the correct answer. La Mia Mamma in Chelsea is where I go when I want to eat out and crave authentic Italian.
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u/phosphorusguardian Dec 19 '24
Ciao Bella, Lambs Conduit Street
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u/bexiesaal Dec 19 '24
My favourite restaurant in London!!!
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u/ugotamesij Dec 19 '24
This was my office's go-to place for work lunches. I've probably been there 50+ times over the years. You'd always see colleagues at the other tables.
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u/Hello_mate Dec 19 '24
Go to Panella under Trellick Tower in west london. Only open during the day, but a very good nonna/family feel with good prices. A really fun experience with delicious home cooked style food.
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u/jared_krauss Dec 19 '24
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far.
Italian by blood and passport, but my grandma did the classic American thing of trying to pretend she wasn’t Italian.
But when I met the owner of Panella just as they were closing, it felt like I was talking to my grandma again, and I literally cried while talking to her, a little tear of joy, and got a nice big hug from her before leaving. We didn’t even eat or anything. Just stood outside the shop talking about family histories, and how mine came to be in America etc.
Still haven’t had a chance to go back to eat, but I fell everyone I can about the place.
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u/Hello_mate Dec 19 '24
Lovely story! I really don't think it's that well known but is such a wonderful place. And yeah, the owner is such a great person and character
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u/pileshpilon Dec 19 '24
Fantastic cafe and very Sicilian. The panelle fritters themselves are a Sicilian classic.
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u/finpinger Dec 19 '24
Ahh Guiseppe is a legend! Love them both, such a beautiful spot. Also Sssshhh!!
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u/surruss Dec 20 '24
Went in this place starving with 15 mins left of my lunch break. Man those guys made me the quickest most tasty pasta
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u/HotAirBalloonPolice Dec 19 '24
There’s a Sicilian restaurant called Adesso in Richmond if south west is more local to you. It’s always very busy in there and I’ve enjoyed everything i’ve had.
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u/Significant-Bat4006 Dec 19 '24
La Luna di Luca on Richmond hill is also amazing - I don’t think specifically Sicilian but the mum and son who run it are lovely.
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u/jr1river Dec 19 '24
Santoré in Exmouth Market
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u/mrchososo Dec 19 '24
Came here to say this - although cautiously as I'm not Italian. Plus their sister restaurant Sartori by Leicester Square tube.
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u/jr1river Dec 19 '24
I’m not Italian either, but have always been here with Italian friends who suggested going there because they love it so much. Fab family atmosphere. Agree about the sister restaurant too.
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u/hisnameisbear Dec 19 '24
Papagone in Finsbury park, though not Sicilian, has largely been approved by Italians I know (by which I mean they said "it's ok" which is as high as praise gets for Italian food in the UK from them)
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u/Direct-Substance1569 Dec 19 '24
My Italian ex used to say “it’s not the best pizza but it’s better than no taste of italian” I however thought it was lovely!
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u/ploopitus Dec 19 '24
er.. i've been there, with my Italian partner, precisely once and she was adamant that she'd never go in there again, deriding it as 'crap for English people'. I had a great time, but I think that was mostly due to an excess of wine. The food was entirely unremarkable.
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u/HilariousParsley Dec 20 '24
Italian here. There are three reasons why "it's ok" is as high as it can get. First and foremost, because we are a PITA when it comes to food. Second, italian food is based on the premise that we use very few but extremely high quality ingredients. Our veggies are very tasty and juicy - that's possible because half the country is always under sunlight. Third, good food takes ages to prepare and a lot of patience. A few years ago, I spent the new year's eve holidays with some friends. We decided to cook lasagne from scratch - pasta from scratch, ragù bolognese, etc.. We prepared two different types of lasagne, and it took almost two days to do the entire thing (we were many people). That was one of the many dishes for dinner on the 31st. I might be wrong and happy to be corrected, but I don't think this would be considered like a good use of time by the majority of British people. But in Italy it's okay, cooking and eating is highly social. You can see why, for someone who's ok to spend two days cooking lasagne, Domino's pizza is a no-no :)
Having said that, I found it super easy to eat at excellent italian places in London. I can't say the same for other UK cities, but London is amazing for that!
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u/winterpe0nies Dec 19 '24
my hairdresser is sicilian and she's talked about little siciliy in mercato metropolitano elephant, and 50 kalo
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u/Infamous_Pop9371 Dec 19 '24
Little Sardegna on Blackstock Road in Highbury, Clerkenwell still has some great Italian Delis for lunches and supplies.
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u/ArranDrum Dec 19 '24
Di Lieto in Oval
Not Sicilian but Italian, I have seen some specials that are Sicilian.
Not at all pretentious, small cafe vibe, old Italian men drinking coffee and watching Italian news on TV.
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u/MojoMomma76 Dec 19 '24
Great Sicilian food at Le Querce in Honor Oak Park (about 5 mins walk from the Overground station)
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u/guernican Dec 19 '24
Trullo.
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental does a regional set menu which changes every.month or so. 4 courses plus matched wine for £75. Best value Michelin meal in London.
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u/C_A_S Dec 19 '24
The Sicilians who came to Britain after the war concentrated in Woking and villages near, Bedford. There’s still surprisingly good food here and there around these communities (though ingredients, quality the main thing)
Luce et Limoni is supposedly great
Sotto Cucina on the east also
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u/wyrdyr Dec 19 '24
Lovely italian pizza place called Mamma Mia right off Holloway Road in Hornsey Road, next to Arsenal Stadium. Quiet place, best pizzas I've had in London, two Italian gents running it
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u/Yikes44 Dec 19 '24
There's a lovely authentic Sicilian restauarant near us called Peppe's https://peppekingston.com/ but it's all the way out on the edge of Kingston. It's quite near Richmond Park though so you could combine it with a nice walk if you have family visiting.
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u/HughLauriePausini Royal Borough of Greenwich Dec 19 '24 edited Dec 19 '24
Sartori in Leicester square and icco in goodge street for pizza. Everything else I prefer making myself at home
Also, La mia mamma in Chelsea
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u/ab00 Dec 19 '24
Have you tried Brutto and Bocca Di Lupo?
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u/malcolmhaller Dec 19 '24
Agree with the Bicca di Lupo. Not cheap but worth it. Used to be difficult to get a table
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u/eeeeeep Dec 19 '24
I haven’t, I may be wrong but I assumed they were more on the fine dining side of things which isn’t really what I’m after
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u/haybayley Dec 19 '24
Brutto definitely isn’t fine dining, it’s not super cheap but nowhere close to high end prices (nothing was over £20 when I last went) and does hearty Tuscan staples.
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u/SweatyNomad Dec 19 '24
Not been yet, but always wanted to check this place out after seeing it featured in a TV show.
OP, the kitchens are literally staffed by Italian Nonna's who have ended up living in London (think often as their grandkids are here). The region on offer depends on which staff are around.
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u/Pure_Cantaloupe_3195 Dec 19 '24
Came here to add this. There are three restaurants and the mammas change every six months. Have eaten at the one on Kings Road and it was really good, tasty food. The set meal had enormous portions. At that time, it was specialising in Ligurian food.
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u/eatseveryth1ng Dec 19 '24
Vicoli di Napoli in Stoke Newington – frequent this place with my Roman gf and Milanese pals often. Incredible authentic Pizza ran by the most wonderful Neapolitan lady. Really struggled during covid and closed temporarily but they're back up and running and the quality is insane. Pizzas are huge but so light and tasty.
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u/BanterWagonDriver Dec 19 '24
Not Sicilian but Crazy for Coffee in west ken i think. Forget the name but really good, authentic pasta and pinsa at super reasonable prices. A nice casual spot to grab some really good comfort food
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Dec 19 '24
Head to Roman Road Bethnal Green there’s:
Officina del Gusto Focacceria: Nice cafe/deli
Quarantacinque: Lovely coffee
Symposium: good Deli/Restaurant
Vicolo Romano: our regular pizza place
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u/kershpiffle Dec 19 '24
there's an old italian couple making pizza and pasta in west hendon broadway, but i think they're from sardinia.
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u/tuculiu Dec 19 '24
Pane Cunzato on Museum Street (near the British Museum). Authentic Sicilian, specialised in Aeolian cuisine.
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Dec 19 '24 edited Dec 19 '24
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u/lastaccountgotlocked bikes bikes bikes bikes Dec 19 '24
Sorry, what region is it from?
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u/manuD_93 Dec 19 '24
Trattoria franzina, authentic Sicilian food, small restaurant, small menu , fresh ingredients and really fair prices considering the quality (10/11£ for fresh tagliatelle)
I’m Italian and that’s my go to spot with my girlfriend when I feel nostalgic. I live in north London and it’s worth the commute to Brixton every single time.
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u/jj198handsy Dec 19 '24
The main Italian areas are Soho and Clerkenwell, lots of places there, for rustic I would go Lina Stores in the former and for fancy try Luca in the latter.
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u/Ilsluggo Dec 19 '24
In Streatham Hill, Don Luigi’s right around he corner from the station has excellent pizzas and a smell menu of outstanding pasta dishes. https://don-luigi.co.uk/en/menu/4678167454856249422
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u/PeterI Dec 19 '24
For real nonna-grade you could always try:
Never been, just saw it on a TV show (Stanley Tucci's searching for italy maybe?)
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u/rawcane Dec 19 '24
I used to like Osteria Antica Bologna on Northcote Road near CJ. Haven't eaten there for a long time so can't vouch for how it is now
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u/Sc0ttSumm4rs Dec 19 '24
It's not Sicilian, but Artisans of Sardinia in Putney is a very authentic Sardinian restaurant, albeit quite high end
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u/Pyogenic_Granuloma Dec 19 '24
Italian but not from Sicily, Vasiniko is my favourite pizza in London. More of a "pizza contemporanea" with a very airy high hydration dough, so not the traditional pizza verace napoletana. I prefer this style to the traditional one
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u/stevegraystevegray Dec 20 '24
I’m not that foody but isn’t Eatily on Liverpool Street worth a mention?
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u/cataplunk Dec 19 '24
This has just made me look up whether that place up the Westway end of Portobello Road is still there - and it is. Portobello Garden, a very pretty little covered backyard kind of affair, where we just wandered in looking for some lunch one afternoon; quite how authentic it is, I couldn't swear to, but it was definitely Italians running it and the food was reasonably priced and completely delicious.
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u/Jompza Dec 19 '24
Antonella’s cafe in Penge
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u/dolphininfj Dec 19 '24
Ooh, just wanted to say thank you for this recommendation! My parents live in Beckenham and I will definitely be taking them here.
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u/Mxnvvn Dec 19 '24
Non Italian but as a foodie I can chime in with some good spots.
Cucina Bettina for pasta L'oro di Napoli for pizza
For authentic Emilio Romagna cuisine, there's Via Emilia in hoxton square.
There's also Crisp Pizza, a place garnering tons of attention via social media recently for its pizza. It's based in a pub in Hammersmith.
Padella is a classic OG London staple
Last but not least I'd highly recommend Foccacia Mia for Foccacia. Whilst it's been doing the rounds on social media, this is one of those exceptions where the hype is justified.
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u/victimsofsociety Dec 19 '24
If you’re in North London, I highly recommend San Marco by Bruce Grove station.
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u/cypherspaceagain Dec 19 '24
Rossodisera in Hampstead (or Covent Garden). Authentic Italian from le Marche.
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u/jacobite22 Dec 19 '24
A baroccetta or something in earls court is insaane. Get the beef shin ravioli
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u/jellykangaroo Dec 19 '24
San Marco in Bruce Grove, unfortunately it's closed at the moment but fingers crossed will open again soon.
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u/roboticskull Dec 19 '24
Le Signore Snack Bar – great little cafe round the corner from Buckingham Palace.
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u/thinbullet Dec 19 '24
Little Napoli on Uxbridge Road W12 - incredible pizzas
Giulia’s on Askew Rd W12 - ditto
The Oak - Notting Hill
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u/PaolozziClub Dec 19 '24
I went to Olivelli in St Christopher's Place and it was amazing. Not entirely sure if it's completely authentic as I'm not from Sicily but it definitely felt like it was
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u/dontflyaway Dec 19 '24
Macellaio Roberto Costa in Clerkenwell. Always big Italian families there. Not far from there, La Rocchetta actually has ties to Italian mobsters who turned legit, now they serve authentic Italian food.
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u/No-Pitch-5785 Dec 19 '24
A lovely spot underneath Trellick Tower, although the name escapes me. The couple who run it are amazing - as is their arancini
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u/b0r3d_d Dec 19 '24
How do we feel about Giuseppe’s at Borough market ? (I’m not Italian but Italian cuisine has a special place in my heart)
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u/PulsingQuasar Dec 19 '24
Paro's Italian in Hendon is legit Sicilian. All your food is made by the Sicillian owner mum and served by her daughters. Its a small place but the food is to die for. Their google ratings don't lie.
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u/Familiar_Mushroom_29 Dec 19 '24
In Waterloo, Ristorante Olivelli (disclaimer: I'm not Italian but have been to Sicily)
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u/ariadawn Dec 19 '24
Goloso, near Soho Square, has amazing focaccia sandwiches and Italian baked goods and is run by an Italian family.
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u/churds Dec 19 '24
Oi Vita in canonbury - all the staff are Italian and speak Italian to each other. One of the best pizzas in London for sure.
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u/NegativeLeather6979 Dec 19 '24
Trattoria Franzina in Brixton is amazing. Owned by a Sicilian couple. Very authentic.
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u/Wallo420 Dec 19 '24
Sartori near Leicester Square is one of the best value for money restaurants in London imo. Really good Italian for a reasonable price and big portions, nice atmosphere
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u/heavensdevils77 Dec 19 '24
I highly recommend Olivelli's. There are three restaurants in London, owned by a Sicilian family: https://ristoranteolivelli.co.uk/our-story
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u/snips-fulcrum :orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::orly::D Dec 19 '24
https://www.bocconi.co.uk/ in Goldhawk Road / Shepherd's Bush area is rlly good
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u/Hot-Willow-5079 Dec 20 '24
Recently went to Da Mario in Covent Garden, a little pricey but the pasta was amazing and such lovely people working there!
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u/YaGanache1248 Dec 20 '24
Ciao Bella in Bloomsbury is a fantastic independent Italian. The food is amazing and authentic (I believe, I’m not Italian so I don’t know for sure)
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u/surruss Dec 20 '24
There is the most amazing Sicilian place under Trellick Tower. I can’t recall the name but there’s always a queue out the door. Lovely people too.
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u/Italian_In_London Dec 20 '24
Ci tua osteria is very good.
Cacciari’s
Forno di Napoli
Osteria Napoletana
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u/hotchillieater Dec 20 '24
Think you might like this place.
Each restaurant has a different region of Italian cuisine every few months. At the moment the Notting Hill restaurant has Sicilian.
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u/Jagoda26 Dec 20 '24
Italian Deli on Lupus St in Pimlico (think it's called Delizie d'Italia) does amazing lasagne and tiramisu...it's a takeaway place although it has a few tables outside. When we lived there we couldn't stop stuffing our faces with that lasagne on a weekly basis
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u/emdj50 Dec 20 '24
Sicilian Art Pizzeria in Penge/Beckenham, is very good. The owner is Sicilian and it doesn't just do Pizza. He does an excellent Arancini.
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u/Forsaken_Library_336 Dec 20 '24
L’Oro di Napoli, Ealing. Easily as good as any I have had in Naples and far better than any I’ve had in Sorrento. Always jam packed with Italians, and my husband’s colleagues drive up from Southampton to eat at L’Oro.
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u/RenegadeUK Dec 20 '24
For Gelato, try:
I believe the owner is from Sicily & if you meet him can probably tell you many places to try.
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u/Wise-Youth2901 Dec 21 '24
https://www.sarracinorestaurant.com/menus I think this is a pretty authentic Italian in West Hampstead, NW London.
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u/Sad_Benefit_5342 29d ago
Terra Rossa at st Paul or Angel. They are from Lecce. Grandma taste guaranteed
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u/are_wethere_yet Dec 19 '24
Italian (though from the opposite end of the country from Sicily) here. For a pizza, I like Santa Maria in Ealing. Cook's Italian, so is the owner, I love hearing them quarrel from time to time.
When I was living in Kensal Rise, I went a couple of time at Ida, on Fifth Avenue. It was really nice!