As some of you may have realised, with travel not having been possible to Italy for a large part of this year, I’m doing what I can to get my ‘fix of Italy’ in other ways. There are so many reasons I love Italy – the people, the scenery and of course the food! And the latter for us is the easiest to re-create without needing to jump on an aeroplane or take a single PCR test! The UK is now home to some incredible Italian restaurants and one of my favourites is definitely Bocca di Lupo. Opened in 2008 by Jacob Kenedy and Victor Hugo, this restaurant embraces and celebrates the food from all 20 Italian regions.
Bocca di Lupo is situated on Archer Street in Soho, in the heart of London’s Theatre district. With the option of both ‘traditional’ seating at tables as well as the possibility to sit at the marble bar counter and watch the chefs create their masterpieces as you eat, the restaurant has a real buzz about it. Whilst you can enjoy traditional ‘large plate’ dining, what I love most is the fact that you can instead enjoy small tapas style plates. I’ve always loved my food but I’m the first to admit that I’m terrible at trying to decide what to eat at a restaurant. Small style plates suit me perfectly, allowing me to try so many more dishes!
A few days ago on the blog, we highlighted the differences between all 20 Italian regions from Trentino in the North to Calabria and Sicily in the South. Head to Bocca di Lupo and you really could take a tour of the food of all 20 regions of Italy in one night, all washed down with a glass or two of Italian wine. Incidentally, this is another point in the restaurants favour. It’s refreshing to see that they only stock Italian wines and beers along with a great choice of Italian cocktails!
And I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed in the quality of the food either. The menu changes really regularly. After all, as with all great Italian restaurants, it focuses heavily on what’s in season so the resulting flavours are lip-smackingly good.
So what can I recommend if it’s on the menu when you visit? Well, to kick things off, the sage leaves & anchovy were mouth-wateringly delicious. The flavours packed a punch and left my tastebuds wanting more. Just as superb was the home-salted cod (baccalĂ ) whilst the buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes & basil was as good, if not better, than any I have enjoyed in Italy itself. The pasta with aubergines, baked tomatoes with parmesan crumbs and aubergine parmigiana all similarly got a huge thumbs up and five star rating from me! Portion sizes were spot on, the service was attentive, friendly and welcoming. I genuinely could not have asked for more.
I think you’re realising by now that I really can’t recommend and praise Bocca di Lupa highly enough! But don’t worry about missing out if you’re not based near London. Bocca di Lupo now offer the option to enjoy their amazing cuisine at home too. The aptly named Bocca At Home service will deliver the ingredients and cooking instructions to quickly put together a ready prepared Italian feast. They’ll even deliver your chosen bottle of wine or favourite cocktail with it.
And best of all. I only discovered when there that Victor and Jacob have now also opened a gelato shop in London. As they say themselves, a visit is ‘One of the better things to do in London to help sweeten life.’ Well, it’s definitely on my list next time I’m back in the city.
In the meantime I’m torn between ordering the ‘Sicilia for 2’ menu and the orecchiette with nduja to try at home!