06/13/12 - 0 Comments
New to the London Eating — and Saving — Scene: Briciole
One of London’s most expensive areas for a meal out just got a charming new addition — perhaps more importantly, one that won’t set you back this month’s electricity bill. Briciole, meaning ‘breadcrumbs’ in Italian, manages to lay on the table an offer you can’t refuse.
Putting the bad taste of Berlusconi’s latest transgressions aside for a moment, focus instead on your favorite lunchtime deli in Rome, or the nicest biscotti-accompanying espresso you’ve ever had in Florence. Chef Maurizio Morelli brings a little taste of everyone’s favorite boot-shaped nation to Londoners at ridiculously low prices, especially given how tasty the food is. This is Morelli’s second Italian spot in Marylebone — he also owns Briciole’s more luxurious parent restaurant Latium — where he’s proven twice to be no stranger to sourcing top notch Italian ingredients from top notch Italian farmers.
The restaurant features a chilled-out deli and brick-lined bar area (complete with lemon tree), with a mouth-watering selection of cheeses, salami, homemade breads, cookies and wines, or a sit-down space with full menu if the occasion calls. Try a little pre-meal antipasto of burrata pugliese — fresh cow’s milk mozzarella filled with Puglian cream — to go along beautifully with a Tuscan Vin Santo, or another from the wine list’s 160 all-Italian bottles. For the main, a selection of Melanazane alla parmigiana (eggplant, tomato, and parmesan), smoked pesce spade (swordfish) and spinaci saltati con aceto balsámico (wilted spinach with balsamic vinegar) are some standouts on the Briciole menu. Don’t forget to try the Sicilian cannoli if you manage to save a bit of room for dessert.
Prices range from £2-£8 for starters, £5-£10 for main courses and around £3 for desserts.
20 Homer Street, London W1
Image credit: Time Out
