Padella

"The easiest way to deal with these kind of things is to satiate people: with pasta and a big old name like Padella. London’s most famous handmade pasta restaurant doubled up with a spot in Shoreditch (as well as London Bridge) just before the pandemic, and the good news is is that you can now book on their massive terrace. Alternatively you can harness the power of technology via the WalkUp app which queues for you. And yes, that is basically another form of booking. But if it gets you all close to a plate of that pici, who’s arguing?" - jake missing

"When we think of Padella we think of their cacio e pepe. And their notorious queues. But mostly, cacio e pepe. The second branch of this famous handmade pasta spot, Padella Shoreditch has outdoor seating and you’ll be able to join a virtual queue to help with social distancing." - oliver feldman, heidi lauth beasley

"We have good news and we have bad news. If you just went and hid under a chair at the mention of ‘bad news’, we understand - 2020 etc. But anyway, the good news is that the most famous pasta restaurant in London is back with outdoor seating at their Shoreditch branch. The bad news is that they’re still walk-in only, but now you can at least join a virtual queue and go and grab a drink somewhere whilst you wait. Plus, any wait is worth it for their cacio e pepe." - heidi lauth beasley

"The original Padella in Borough Market is arguably one of the greatest affordable date options in London. Sadly, there is just one small snag—it’s walk-in only and you’re likely to spend the first hour of your date bickering over why you couldn’t just go somewhere that takes bookings and yes, actually now that you mention it, you did hate the gift they got you for your birthday. HOW MANY TIMES does ONE PERSON have to SAY that they don’t like Twin Peaks? We’ve all been there. Luckily, for lovers of pasta and devoted other halves everywhere, Padella in Shoreditch does take bookings. Get the pici cacio e pepe, get an eight quid spritz, and get very smug." - Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver

"It’s taken a long time for chef Tim Siadatan and frontman Jordan Frieda to do what a couple of years ago seemed like the inevitable: to capitalise on the success of one of London’s most popular restaurants and arguably the pastificio which sparked London’s recent love affair with Italian fast food. In Shoreditch, the duo have a bigger, more beautiful site as well as a bakery, and the early signs suggest that pastas — such as the trademark beef shin ragu pappardelle and the pici cacio e pepe — as well as seasonal salads and sides will be deserving of renewed interest." - Adam Coghlan, James Hansen