London has always been about the core of it and in recent years the ever developing East. Trullo, the original trattoria from the owners of Padella, is the reason to go North. A truly cosy and authentic trattoria for a good night out!
We got there early for our reservation on a Saturday night and had to opt for a quick drink at the local pub, which was not at all bad given the great ambience of Smokehouse. When we got to our table, we were seated on the ground floor which was also a pleasant surprise as they feature a downstairs room too. Dimly-lit interiors, a cosy yet comfortable setting and lots of great dishes to select from!
Brussel sprouts, with chestnuts, pancetta and gorgonzola fonduta
The owners of Trullo, originally launched this place back in 2010, offering a simple, seasonal focused Italian menu with a great emphasis on pasta. Not so much on the quantity side of things (as they only offer 3-4 pasta dishes a day) but more so on the quality front. Trullo, which is named after the unique, conically-shaped white stone houses in Puglia, is indeed regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in London. For us, it is the best one.
Tim Sidadatan and Jordan Frieda have created a simple interior consisting of an open kitchen at the back and plain white walls with black wooden tables and chairs in the front. Paper tablecloths emanate a casual vibe of a trattoria and carefully-crafted menu reveals quite a lot of thought on what’s being offered each day.
The antipasti we tried were mesmerizing – a beautiful beef tartare, chopped beef, capers and egg; a veggie delight with a twist, brussel sprouts, chestnuts, pancetta and gorgonzola fonduta; and a unique salad, castelfranco, pomegranate, mint, clementine and salted ricotta! Wow! Yet, pasta was the highlight of the night as we shared two dishes equally delicious. The original pici cacio e pepe (also offered at Padella), a thick shaped spaghetti with a rich and golden texture of butter, pepper sauce; and a rich taste Papardelle with chicken livers, sage and Marsala.
To finish the night off, we couldn’t have left without ordering a traditional tiramisu…equally sweet and savoury, with a strong emphasis on coffee and enough cocoa powder to get us going! What a treat for a night out in London. Can’t wait go back!
Deliciously delicate and moist tiramisu