L'Orecchietta

Named after the southern Italian pasta whose name means small ear, L'Orecchietta has listened to London’s needs and given lucky Angel locals an answer. That question regarded the problem of finding not only authentic Italian cuisine in the city but a restaurant with a specific focus on the regional cuisine of Apulia? L'Orecchietta’s the answer, and this informal trattoria on Wakley Street goes one further, bringing the sunkissed and windswept cuisine of Salento, at the southeastern extremity of Italy, to bear on a menu packed with interesting dishes.

The nous in L'Orecchietta’s kitchen is provided by chef Loredana, equipped with an encyclopaedia of recipes from Salento and Apulia and ready to tantalise diners with an a la carte menu and daily specials that make loyalists of Angel locals and draw in a regular flock of London’s Italian food fans looking for regional specialties. The restaurant’s namesake pasta is available in spades, as are traditional pasticciotto Salentino, ideal next to a good cup of proper Italian espresso. As an added bonus, L'Orecchietta also runs its own deli and wine shop, so you can take many of the ingredients that the kitchen uses in its daily dishes home with you.

Lunch is probably the most important meal in Italy’s daily gastronomic calendar. Unsurprisingly, L'Orecchietta does this very well, starting with a selection of Mediterranean finger foods – stuzzichini – that are ideal as a duo or trio to share. Doubling up as one of Angel and Islington’s best Italian delicatessens means that L'Orecchietta have a great selection of meat and cheese platters on offer, as well as sandwiches. As for the main courses, L'Orecchietta can safely lay claim to making the only real parmigiana melanzane in London, using a genuine recipe from Salento for their version of the classic. Homemade pastas and focaccia stuffed with the daily market’s catch of vegetables are also highlights. For a main meat course, you’ll just have to drop by Wakley Street and say hello – this changes daily.