23/10/17 - Updated with soft launch details.
What: Pastaio
In a nutshell: Fresh pastas and Italian cocktail slushies from Stevie Parle
Summing it all up: Pastaio is Italian for someone who makes pasta by hand - something you can expect plenty of in the latest venture by Stevie Parle (Dock Kitchen, Rotorino, Palatino, Craft) in Soho. Based on his track record, and his limitless enthusiasm for the dish, we’re expecting very good things…
The low-down
Just in time for the carbier half of the year comes Pastaio, Soho’s new restaurant entirely dedicated to pasta. It's the latest project Stevie Parle, the same man behind one of our own pasta faves, Clerkenwell’s Palatino and he knows more than just a thing or two about making pasta.
“I’ve been obsessed with making fresh pasta since I first learned to cook. The kneading, resting, shaping, rolling, stuffing and drying of fresh pasta is a skill that takes time and dedication to develop,” said the former young chef of the year.
Despite its very central London location (it's taking over the place where Cha Cha Moon once was), prices are very reasonable at £7 to £11 for each plate:
- Coombeshead Farm sourdough, Pastaio Olive Oil (£3)
- Fried mozzerella, nduja and honey sandwich (£4)
- Clams cooked in butter and grillo (£9)
- Wild mushrooms, tagliatelle, garlic, olive oil (£10)
- Slow cooked sausage sauce, malloredus (£8)
- Potato ravioli, with gravy and egg yolk (£8)
- Crab, courgette, yellow tomato, marjoram, fusilli (£11)
- Tonarelli cacio e pepe (£7)
- Grouse, rabbit & pork agnoli (£11)
Even though the pasta’s made by hand in the traditional fashion, there are several less classic options for you to try as well, like that ravioli with potato and gravy, and an Aperol spritz-inspired slushy that we can’t pretend we don’t want to try.
The inside will be full of colourful murals designed to make you “feel like you’re on holiday in Bologna”, with space for 70 and three communal terrazzo tables. And it's being designed by Tom Dixon studios who have had such a big hand in making Stevie Parle's previous restaurants look so impressive.
Soft launch details
Fancy some half-priced pasta to celebrate the launch of Pastaio? Of COURSE you do, and we're here to help with that. It runs from 30 October to 4 November with 50% off all food. All you have to do is turn up and quote the Hot Dinners code "fusilli" to get your discount.
More about Pastaio
Where is it? 19 Ganton St, London W1F 7BU
When does it open? 30 October 2017
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Twitter @pastaiolondon.
