Little Sardegna

Little Sardegna - Review - Highbury - London - The Infatuation

"Every neighbourhood in London has a great little place that makes us want to risk the one-click instant-depression of Zoopla house prices to see if we could be their neighbour. When it comes to Highbury’s Blackstock Road, that place is Little Sardegna. In case the red gingham tablecloths and overflowing bread baskets don’t give it away, this is a classic of the cosy old-school Italian joint genre with a special ingredient—an owner who will meet your needs with the love and efficiency of a private doctor. Albeit a doctor who pours overflowing glasses of Sardinian Nieddera like it’s your 18th birthday and has a cluster of chatty friends parked by the kitchen who all share the same contagious dirty laugh. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch Pause Unmute It’s a great place to hit up if you fancy a big bowl of pasta but have a case of bolognese fatigue. The Sardinian specialities include the must-order doughy, mint-peppered culurgiones with a chunky tomato sauce. Whether you’re looking for a casual date spot that’s secretly swoon-ready or a catch-up for under £40 per person, it’ll fit the bill. And when that inevitable ‘I never want to leave’ feeling strikes, know that the owner is partial to ignoring his own closing hours for another glass of red and a friendly natter. Food Rundown Bread Basket We’ve never met a bread basket we didn’t like but this is one for the books. The focaccia is extra soft and primed as the perfect ragu sponge, but the huge, crispy, light shards of pane carasau had us entering a private pact to still eat our tagliatelle even if we nibbled clean every single crumb. If you’re new to this traditional Sardinian flatbread, be prepared to spend the rest of your life adjusting your toaster settings to try and achieve this perfect level of crackle and crunch. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch Tagliatelle Al Ragu A solid plate of pasta that’s less conversation stealer, more satisfying hunger buffer. You get an unashamedly generous amount of rich ragu that’s a touch sweet, with a loving sprinkle of parmesan. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch Culurgiones Culurgiones mean never having to pick between gnocchi and ravioli again. Each al dente dumpling is packed full of potato and pecorino, and the little flecks of mint really speak to this being a dish designed to be consumed in a climate where it would never matter if you forgot an umbrella. Order this, think about it incessantly, return, and order it again. PlayMute video credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Heidi Lauth Beasley