While we may not be blessed with a Mediterranean climate here in the Big Smoke (though these recent sunny days have been beautiful), it can get pretty damn toasty in June.
So, we better make the most of the fitting cuisines when the skies do decide to pull out their best impression of an Italian beach setting, right? Right.
And with two London sites in a matter of months, the Italian pasta favourites should be ranking high on your lists of places to go. They’re pretty new to London — we told you about their first site just last year — but, having already enjoyed success in Italy, they’re clearly no fools, and they’re riding the buzz right on in to Islington.
The Covent Garden opening in December 2021 was their first outside of Italy and marked the start of their global expansion. And now, miscusi Islington has opened just in time for London to catch some rays. Conveninent since their new Islington site boasts a 40 square foot terrace for Londoners to gorge on pasta and wine. And that, essentially, is the dream. Yep, the dream.
But, any London restaurant owner worth their salt is bound to have more up their sleeve for when the heavens open. Head to the basement to check out the karaoke machine (and snap a photo), because we all know that belting out a summer anthem after a plate of pasta and several glasses of wine is, deep down, what we yearn for in our nights out.
The delightful interior – with a Barbican-style waffle ceiling that’s recycled from the 70s – matches perfectly with the sumptuous spread of dishes. If you’re lucky, you might even get a seat in front of the “pastificio” feature. From there you can watch fresh pasta being produced by their authentic Dominioni machine while you eat.
What’s on the menu?
You’ll happen upon some familiar plates at the new site, including the Pacchero Tricolore, a pistachio cream, authentic burrata and famous tomato sauce, which has gone down a storm. But you know they wouldn’t just bring the classics. They’re also rolling out new items such as Cacio, Pepe and Shrimp Tartare with Sicilian red Shrimps. You can even personalise your own pasta dishes! And, with dishes starting at £9.50, you can’t really go wrong.
Alberto Cartasegna, Founder and CEO of miscusi, said: “Since December, we’ve had the pleasure of serving over 30,000 customers, bringing a proper taste of Milan to the UK. With the Islington branch, we want to create a space that embodies the good vibes and good times that comes from authentic Italian dining – after all, pasta is the ultimate good mood food!
“For us, pasta is happiness, an easy way of bringing people together over a simple bowl of food, whether you’re sharing a meal with family, friends or even co-workers. We can’t wait to welcome our North London neighbours into the family, and we’re bringing everything with us; our signature dishes, our Italian staff and even our karaoke machine! Islington’s Upper Street boasts some of the best places to eat in London, so it was the perfect place for our next adventure.”
All dishes are low carbon as part of miscusi’s sustainable mission. Throughout the month of June, anyone who books a table gets 50% off their meal.