Islington, Italian Restaurant Guide

2017 Review: “Consistently good thin-crust pizza” makes it worth remembering this cute, family-friendly Italian, hidden off Upper Street.

2019 Review: “Tucked away off Upper Street”, this genuine “small” deli/restaurant “has ‘Italy’ sprayed all over it” – “a busy and popular” spot, featuring “lots of regional ingredients”, and with “great fresh pasta” and “consistently fantastic pizza you can take away, too”.

“A gem, well worth a visit to darkest Highbury Corner”: as it enters its 10th year, Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda’s “great neighbourhood Italian” remains the survey’s most-mentioned destination in north London, buoyed by its “excellent, simple fare” and “efficient service”, served in a “compact” but romantic setting that “exudes a tremendous warmth” (“want a first date in a light airy space? Book upstairs, especially in summer; want a sexy tryst? Book a booth downstairs, especially in winter”). On the downside, some former fans feel it’s “dropped to middling” of late: “a local place, but with a centre-of-town bill”.

“There’s no better choice if you’re going to Islington’s Almeida Theatre” than this “cheerful Puglian” nearby, which serves “way better food than its touristy appearance suggests”: “simple, flavourful Italian dishes” washed down with “sensibly-priced, rustic, southern Italian wines”. “The atmosphere is unfussy, friendly and easygoing: you get a great meal and a very reasonable bill”.

It’s a “spacious, modern and stylish” venue – on the site of Islington’s Almeida (RIP) – but owners D&D London and respected chef Francesco Mazzei “really ought to up their game” here: it “beats a pizza chain”, but should deliver much more. As it is, being “convenient for the Almeida Theatre” is one of the best things that reporters have to say about it: “without this neighbour they probably wouldn’t survive”.

From the owners of Zia Lucia, this smallish (40-cover), summer 2019 yearling aims to bring a similar experimental approach to pasta to that which has won Zia Luca a following for pizza, using different flours for its homemade creations. ‘Pasta – Roll with it’ is the catchy motto.

Drawing inspiration from Milan's pasticceria, panino shops and pizzerias, everything at Latteria - cakes, pastries, pizza and pasta - is made in-house, with ingredients sourced from Italy; it's open from breakfast to 'aperitivo time'.

Another pasta-only opening, this time from Naples-born Elia Sebregondi and Enzo Mirto who have worked together at Soho House and Kiln; this one incorporates a pasta workshop.

Artisan bakery with branches in Islington and the new Arcade Food Theatre at Centrepoint; this branch also serves homemade pasta dishes in the evenings (Wed-Sun).