Spitalfields, Pizza Restaurant Guide

“Such a good pizza… and lovely Bloody Marys”, say fans of this “very cool spot”, on the ground floor of the iconic Tea Building in Shoreditch (the bar is in the basement). Originally opened by the Soho House group, it was snapped up by Gordon Ramsay in 2023, and he has since added a second branch within his Bread Street Kitchen in Stratford. Top Tip – “works well for big groups”.

Oscar Farinetti’s “Italian superstore” near Liverpool Street station – part of his 45-strong global foodhall chain – is a “great place to eat and buy Italian foods”, with a “massive display of Italian wines”. A recent link-up with Milan-based TV chef Carlo Cracco, whose name is now above the flagship restaurant Terra, has done little, however, to change the perception that this is a venue for browsing “interesting Italian products” rather than lingering over a meal – and those who do eat tend to prefer the “very good pizzas from a wood-burning stove” to more ambitious meals that can be “a poor and expensive experience”: “although ingredients are good, cooking is below average”, while “the terrace overlooks the Bishopsgate traffic, so you can soak up the City’s busy atmosphere… police sirens and all”.

“Fantastic deep-pan pizzas in buzzy simple surroundings” make this duo in Islington (where you can book a table) and Spitalfields (walk-in only) “worth queuing for”. The pizzas are cooked in square blue steel pans originating in Detroit car factories. Top Tip – “Pepperoni with honey and a cold beer… a go-to hangover cure!”