NORMA, FITZROVIA
Best Italian restaurant for: on-trend Sicilian flavours without the queues Dish to order: if it’s on the specials menu, order ravioli with sheep’s cheese and wilted greens
Just around the corner from Fitzrovia’s it-restaurant of the moment Circolo Popolare, low-lit Norma is (like Circolo) a Sicilian restaurant that serves (like Circolo) hearty plates inspired by the Italian island. Unlike its more-hyped neighbour, it is not plagued by hour-long queues – book a table at one of the discreet booths, surrounded by tiled floors and arches that give the dining room a Moorish feel. At the helm is chef Ben Tish, who trained under Jason Atherton. His authentic plates come thick and fast – spaghettini fritters are crisp while a chickpea panelle (also a fritter) is fluffy, and loaded with zingy salsa verde. We liked the namesake pasta alla Norma, which is a simple supper with tomatoes, aubergines and ricotta. Mains nod toward Sicily’s close relationship with nearby northern Africa in dishes such as seafood stew with saffron couscous or roasted North Sea hake with pumpkin, 'nduja and pickled tomato. All the wines are Italian – we recommend the bold Puglia red Negroamaro, which can be ordered by the glass, and as a happy coincidence it’s the most affordable on the wine list, too. By Sarah James and G.Colombo ( Press Source)
**Address:**Norma, 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LS
Telephone:+44 20 3995 6224
No comments:
Post a Comment