Lina Stores, which has been supplying Londoners with the best Italian ingredients for over 75 years, is a Soho institution, and now its opened a pasta restaurant on Greek Street just around the corner from the Brewer Street deli. It’s been a long time coming but it’s been worth the wait, and as the place was packed out on our visit it seems a lot of other people agree.
The restaurant has the same mint green exterior, with counter dining on the ground floor and tables in the basement. We sat downstairs but the counter looks like a prime spot if you can get it. Pasta is the star of the show here – it’s all handmade daily in the deli, just like it has been since 1944, and head chef Masha Rener has created a menu that features Lina Stores classics as well as regional Italian specialities. The pici with porcini and Umbrian sausage was our fave of the lot although the gnocchi with new season peas and salted ricotta, which was as light as a feather, ran it a close second though. Thankfully the portion sizes allow for you to try a few and, yes, you will be wanting all of them.
The antipasti showcases more of the amazing produce they have in the deli so don’t skip this section of the menu, especially the ‘nduja and ricotta and the moreish crispy aubergine polpette topped with a dollop of San Marzano tomato sauce. We may have carb loaded a bit too much, only leaving room for one of their excellent cannolo for dessert but we did see a few chocolate tarts go around the room and they didn’t hang around long.
[easy-image-collage id=109421]Given that the deli is famous for the quality of their ingredients, it’s not really surprising that the food at the restaurant is so good, and with the most expensive dish on the menu coming in at ten quid, it’s bloody great value too. Here’s hoping this Lina Stores lasts another 75 years.
51 Greek St, London W1D 4EH
linastores.co.uk