If you’re looking for somewhere slick and smart to grab a bite to eat in the capital, Cucina Asellina is where to head. The award-winning Italian bar and restaurant set in the heart of Aldwych is inspired by its sister restaurant Asellina in New York, and with the contemporary design and polished service, you can feel the NYC influence coming through.
We headed down on a Tuesday night and although there were a few empty tables (we’re imagining this is a different story later on in the week), the warm welcome from the friendly staff more than made up for the restaurant being a little quiet.
The menu at Cucina Asellina is filled with modern Italian dishes, split into sharing starters, anti-pasti, pasta, pizza and mains. We started with a couple of classics; burrata served with olive oil and a dollop of pesto and Frittura Mista; calamari, whitebait and prawns served simply with a squeeze of lemon. The dishes at Cucina Asellina let their ingredients speak for themselves; simple, fresh flavours and classic combinations, served up in fuss-free dishes.
For my main, I went for the Veal Saltimbocca, a thin slice of veal topped with salty bacon and served with rosemary potatoes, (we also ordered a cheeky side of polenta chips, which were delicious). The veal was lovely; salty and tender, and perfectly matched with the little burst of olive oil and fragrant rosemary from the potatoes.
Located on ground floor of the ME London hotel, Cucina Asellina is the perfect destination for a special meal with friends, or to take a date for a decadent dinner before heading up to the Radio rooftop bar for cocktails.
Visit the website here.
Cucina Asellina
Me London Hotel
336-337 The Stand
London
WC2R 1HA
