Pasta is a unifier of a dish; a widely agreeable dinner staple that’s carried children through navigating solids, students through university, and me, personally, through organising meals in London with my friends that won’t cause me to blink furiously, holding back tears, at the size of the bill. This is one thing Padella, the Michelin-recognised pasta restaurant in Shoreditch and London Bridge, understands, all while maintaining its Bib Gourmand status.
The interiors of Padella Shoreditch are by Day Studio London.
DesignMyNight Reviews Padella In Shoreditch
Jordan Frieda and Tim Siadatan first opened their Bourough Market outpost in 2016 on a walk-in-only basis, which, despite the consistent queues, it still is today. And while its Shoreditch spot, born in 2020, welcomes bookings, you’ll still find snakes of people lining up around the corner, hoping to get a taste of the fresh, homemade pasta that Padella does so well, all for between £9.50 to £16.50.
Jordan and Tim are no strangers to Italian cuisine, however. The pair are also behind the acclaimed Trullo in Islington, which is often reserved for a much more indulgent affair, and has won the praise of many a food critic, such as Jay Rayner and Tracey MacLeod. Padella, on the other hand, offers a relatively laid-back dining experience.
The antipasti at Padella is not to be missed - its menu changes regularly.
As soon as I walked in, I noticed an open kitchen right at the back, with a healthy amount of counter seats, as well as casual, maroon coloured tables, all filled up. My partner and I were seated in a cosy corner facing the door, which was serendipitous as it was where we sat the first time we visited (yes, I confess, this is not my first Padella rodeo).
We ordered two non-alcoholic Mother Root Ginger Switchels (£5.50 each), which were brilliantly refreshing and offered a fiery kick that erased any Tuesday lethargy we had. Our selection of antipasti wasn’t the most carb-heavy, but this was for the best, as we were about to consume three plates of pasta. To warm up, we devoured Norfolk asparagus (£14) with butter and pecorino, which was gorgeously tender, creamy and subtly salty, alongside some melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto San Daniele (£14).
The rocket and mint salad with Moscatel dressing (£6) was a welcome, zingy contrast; we tried to save this to go with our mains, but when they arrived they took up most of the table, so we had to compromise by finishing it quicker than planned, which wasn’t the worst. I spun al dente ribbons of fettuccine with a pistachio, mint and basil pesto (£14.50) around my fork and enjoyed aromatic mouthfuls with a slight crunch. Addictive, with a bright, clean taste, it was the type of pesto worth living off of.
The pasta dishes are made to share, but you can easily have one to yourself.
On the other hand, the parpardelle with Dexter beef shin ragu (£16.50), which had been cooked for eight hours, was a lot richer and decadent, with a subtle acidity from the herby tomato sauce. This dish is a customer favourite, and as we enjoyed generous helpings of tender meat folded into strands of thick pasta, we could see why. Our final plate was the ravioli of Westcombe ricotta (£14) drizzled in a sage butter, which were mild and velvety little pockets of pleasure.
And of course, we couldn’t not finish an Italian meal without ordering a tiramisu (£8.50) - one that was a suitably generous helping covered in a snowstorm of cocoa powder. The mascarpone was plentiful and sweet, and the coffee-soaked sponge cut through, leaving both my partner and I content in a dessert coma; the way it should be after a quality meal.
Overall: Padella Shoreditch
I would consider Padella in Shoreditch more than worth the hype. While it’s slightly hard to get in if you don’t make a booking, it’s well worth the wait. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients and love, without being obnoxious or overpriced, which can sometimes be the case with pasta. If you’re looking for a laid-back date spot or a crowd-pleasing restaurant for a group gathering, I can’t recommend it enough.
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💰 Price: £98.50 for two, excluding service charge. 📍 Address: 1 Phipp Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 4PS. 👌 Perfect for: affordable date night or catch-up with friends. ⭐ Need to know: you can book Padella Shoreditch online, but the London Bridge outpost is walk-ins only. |
For more, check out our guide to affordable restaurants in London.
