… yeah it really is, quite special. This must be my sixth visit, and everytime I’ve been back, I alternate between two of – what is quickly becoming – my favourite snacks: The ground beef & bone marrow slider and the gooey truffle egg toast. Most of the menu is fabulous, the panzenella (a kind of stale bread and tomato salad) , the mac & cheese, the cheddar grits and the PB&J pudding, are entirely edible. But I think I like it because it’s so accessible, you can drop in, have a swift bite and a short measure of meantime ale, enjoy the food and the speakeasy-esque ambiance, and the 50s harmonica laden background noise and be on your way again. I’ve come in here by myself a few times, and I’ve seen a few people do the same. Places such as these, where you can pop in for a snack are few and far between, and I cherish it for this very reason. Also it’s only but a stone’s throw from Gelupo.. who have started to bring back their Zabione gelato again, which I really appreciate! Basically, this is my Friday afternoon routine, ie, lunch at Spuntino, followed by dessert at Gelupo.
Four months since it opened it’s dusty doors, I think its become a unique part of the London dining scene, and of course, a unique landmark in Soho.
It really is Russell Norman’s best restaurant in his Polpo empire, and if you are amongst the few who have yet to visit, then I can only urge you to give it a go.
Went here yesterday 15th July… I have to say, not impressed.
Micro portions, more or less thrown down onto the bar by staff that seemed to be interested in getting one out as soon as possible.
We were sitting at the bar at the rear of the place, on a “sharing seat”… McDonalds, where I have never been, apparently design their seats to become uncomfortable after 20 minutes… these were uncomfortable instantly! We had the boss and his mates sitting/standing next to us, and they were being served one dish after another in quick succession, and there was much clattering and discussion about which was best… blah blah…
Anyway, as I said distinctly unimpressed…
I have a test for eatery’s…
Take an establishment complete and plant it somewhere like Croydon, or Wimbledon… How would it do?
In the case of Spuntino, it would be out of business within the week!
In my simplistic view, this is a place for the easily impreseed to be seen, not a place to enjoy good food.
… yeah it really is, quite special. This must be my sixth visit, and everytime I’ve been back, I alternate between two of – what is quickly becoming – my favourite snacks: The ground beef & bone marrow slider and the gooey truffle egg toast. Most of the menu is fabulous, the panzenella (a kind of stale bread and tomato salad) , the mac & cheese, the cheddar grits and the PB&J pudding, are entirely edible. But I think I like it because it’s so accessible, you can drop in, have a swift bite and a short measure of meantime ale, enjoy the food and the speakeasy-esque ambiance, and the 50s harmonica laden background noise and be on your way again. I’ve come in here by myself a few times, and I’ve seen a few people do the same. Places such as these, where you can pop in for a snack are few and far between, and I cherish it for this very reason. Also it’s only but a stone’s throw from Gelupo.. who have started to bring back their Zabione gelato again, which I really appreciate! Basically, this is my Friday afternoon routine, ie, lunch at Spuntino, followed by dessert at Gelupo.
Four months since it opened it’s dusty doors, I think its become a unique part of the London dining scene, and of course, a unique landmark in Soho.
It really is Russell Norman’s best restaurant in his Polpo empire, and if you are amongst the few who have yet to visit, then I can only urge you to give it a go.
For more words, read my first review.
Egg & soldiers.
Ground beef & bone marrow slider, and spicy mackerel slider.
The Gist of It
Spuntino
American, £25pp
61 Rupert Street W1D 7PW
No phones, no reservations.
Tube: Piccadilly Circus
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Comments (3)
They do look very good, so id love to try – but my visit to Da Polpo was underwhelming…! http://federilli.blogspot.com/2011/06/da-polpo-makes-me-flavours-homesick.html
Went here yesterday 15th July… I have to say, not impressed.
Micro portions, more or less thrown down onto the bar by staff that seemed to be interested in getting one out as soon as possible.
We were sitting at the bar at the rear of the place, on a “sharing seat”… McDonalds, where I have never been, apparently design their seats to become uncomfortable after 20 minutes… these were uncomfortable instantly! We had the boss and his mates sitting/standing next to us, and they were being served one dish after another in quick succession, and there was much clattering and discussion about which was best… blah blah…
Anyway, as I said distinctly unimpressed…
I have a test for eatery’s…
Take an establishment complete and plant it somewhere like Croydon, or Wimbledon… How would it do?
In the case of Spuntino, it would be out of business within the week!
In my simplistic view, this is a place for the easily impreseed to be seen, not a place to enjoy good food.
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