Harden's says
As famous for the queues as well as the pasta, Borough Market's Padella opened a second branch in February 2020.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Knocking it out of the park, with wonderful fresh pasta, buzzy vibe and great value” – Tim Siadatan & Jordan Frieda’s famous Borough Market flagship celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and along with its magnificent Shoreditch spinoff inspires better-than-ever ratings for a superb-value offering, which continues to attract new converts (“I have taken many friends, all of whom love it”). To their credit, everything is made daily (with the kitchen on full view through the windows in EC2); and prices remain super-competitive: you can still have a bowl of pasta for under £10. The Borough original does not take bookings, but these days you can queue virtually via the Dojo app. A typical meal? – “Anchovies with bread and butter, Pasta with crab, Rhubarb and almond tart, Glass of Primitivo. Bill – very reasonable”.
Summary
“No-one, and I mean no-one who I’ve taken here, has ever said a bad word; and moreover, many have returned separately. It’s my No. 1 ‘go-to’ for casual dining with friends, whose subsequent advocacy says it all!” – Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda struck gold with this “constantly busy” duo of superior pasta pitstops, which are rightly famous on social media and one of London’s ultimate cheap eats. They offer “the best fresh pasta” (which you can watch being made through the windows from early morning on) “at great value prices, which is why they are sooo popular: why you must book well in advance in EC2” or expect to queue in SE1 (“which operates an effective virtual queuing system”).
Summary
“Love Padella! Both the one in Borough Market and the one in Shoreditch”. “It doesn’t need any review as everyone seems to already know it” – a “go-to Italian” with “simple, perfect portions whose comforting flavours just sing” (freshly made every morning on the premises) all at “amazing value” prices. “It’s so busy, you need to book way in advance (at least in EC2, unlike SE1 where you need to queue)”. “All in all, the whole experience is devoid of pretence: nothing tries to be fancy, it is just damn good.” “I take all my friends, all of whom have been impressed… and many have subsequently returned for themselves. Says it all!”
Summary
“Still some of the very best pasta in London at half the price of most places” continues to inspire rave reviews for these genius pit stops, where “pound for pound the great value for money is always good” (“and extends to the drinks”). “For an unplanned midweek supper there’s nothing better”, although at the mega-popular Borough Market original it can feel “like a conveyor belt” at busier times. At “the funky newish premises in Shoreditch” there’s “rather more space than in SE1, with proper booking… what’s not to like?”. Top Menu Tip – “just go for the cacio e pepe… but everything else is good as well”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Padella Shoreditch?
Restaurant details
Padella Shoreditch Restaurant Diner Reviews
"really enjoyed our visit today : excellent papperdelle with beef shin + a very generous kid priced tomato ragu + spaghetti portion. Raddiccio and carpaccio starters both also good though a little bit stingy on the meat in the carpaccio. We liked the design and decor, very friendly waitress and the room is a little 'cold' as it's industrial design but we like that. Very reasonable given current prices - will be back. Prefer the slightly more relaxed atmosphere than Borough Market."
"Bookable if you try hard - no phone number... A mixture of business and tourist patrons enjoy some basic Italian cooking well executed. Anchovies on lovely thin toast; simple burrata with great olive oil ;plenty of pastas although mainly Tartaglia based . Good desserts. Friendly helpful service. The room is industrial modern and there is a conservatory which has some heating for winter. Many places are on bar stools. "
"Pasta menu, lots of choice so difficult to decide. Anchovies with bread and butter, Pasta with crab, Pasta with gorgonzola and sweet onion, chocolate ice cream and rhubarb and almond tart, glass of Primitivo. Very reasonable £70."
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