Padella opened in 2016 to such critical acclaim, and the queues are as long today as they were then. Whilst it is definitely a good sign, was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
Dining on a budget
Pasta lovers
Date night
Ambience & Décor
Padella’s retro design was so trendy. The light and dark contrast (dark wooden fixtures with marbled tops) was a personal favourite but the pièce de résistance was the open kitchen (left). The sights, sounds and smells from the kitchen elevated the dining experience. The venue was an Instagram hit. As with every night, Padella was packed to rafters but not overly raucous, so easy to hold conversation. With their no-booking policy, the wait can be arduous, so be warned.
Service
Despite being busy, the staff were impeccable. Really friendly and charming.
Food
My friends decided on tapas-style dining at Padella. One of the stars of the show was Gnocchi with nutmeg butter. I am ambivalent about gnocchi as it is usually overcooked, but this blew me away. Hands down the best in London. Perfect gnocchi with the nutmeg butter providing a great complement. Simple yet stunning. It was so delicious we re-ordered.
Up next was the Ravioli of Neal’s Yard Westcombe ricotta & sage butter. Sourced from the Neal’s Yard outlet in Borough Market, the delicious creamy ricotta and plethora of parmesan garnish was a cheese lover’s heaven. The sage butter added wetness and an earthy note. Herbs always add a few dimensions to dishes.
The Pappardelle with 8 hours Dexter beef shin ragu had perfectly cooked pasta. Whilst the beef shin was tasty, I just wished there was more of it. Good dish nonetheless.
Finally, the Tagliarini with Dorset crab, chilli and lemon (right). With this being the most expensive dish, I had high hopes. The crab was ample and fresh with plenty of heat and zing emanating from the chilli and lemon. Despite the strong flavours, the subtlety of the crab was not lost. Sublime dish to end the meal.
Padella was a culinary delight from start to finish, with the gnocchi being the surprise package. Fresh flavours, delicious dishes and outstanding value. Easy A+ rating.
Photos of Padella and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: A+
Final comment: Possibly the best value restaurant in London. Be prepared to queue.
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