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Local Italian Inspiration FOR wine & antipasti Negozia Classica, Primrose Hill
did eat was fantastic. A burger and a hot dog with a side of homemade beans, slaw, chips and chilli con carne (all excellent), made for a substantial meal. The meat in the burger (sourced from the Hampstead Butcher & Providore down the road) was succulent and tasty, while the chilli dog was well-spiced, the pork sausage juicy and full-flavoured in spite of the tangy sauce. We washed these down with a few interesting beers, served in one and two-thirds of a pint measures, to ensure you can try a wider range of ales. They also do a good line in interesting whiskies, but we decided to shun these and head upstairs to the ‘speakeasy’ Flat P cocktail bar upstairs, accessed very much through a rabbit warren of unlit corridors. The divine little bar has all the quirky, retro charisma we loved at Purl, and makes a wonderful place for a decadent cocktail or two in the winter, with flickering candle light and thick red curtains to block out the light. With Hampstead still struggling to really hold its own as a real eating destination that offers more than chain restaurants and gastro pubs, Dach & Sons is a welcome addition; a great place both for a drink and a quick, fun bite to eat. It’s good to see places like this heading to North West London, and, in the words of Oliver Twist, ‘More please!’. n Dach & Sons, 68 Heath Street, Hampstead, NW3 1DN www.dachandsons.com
A wonderful addition to the area just under a year ago, this wine bar and restaurant is Tuscan in inspiration, with food and wine offering a real flavour of Toscana, served in quirky modern surrounds with exposed brick and rustic paintwork. The meat and cheese platters are especially delicious, with well-sourced authentic produce, while the wine bar space is warm and inviting with a wine list that extends its reach throughout Europe. www.negozioclassica.co.uk
FOR pizza & people Pizza East, Kentish Town The new kid on the block in NW, Pizza East follows its siblings’ examples in Shoreditch and Portobello to set down roots in a residential outpost of London and thereby make it the talk of the town. Food at Pizza East is seasonal and fresh, expect a range of divine pizzas with inventive toppings, as well as tapas-style starter dishes and a wide selection of world wines. Décor is classic Soho House, exposed brick and concrete, steel beams, wooden floors with a rustic, vintage overtones, and floor to ceiling retractable windows make this a solid summer offering too. www.pizzaeast.com
FOR classic & elegant Il Baretto, Marylebone Compared to the two young pretenders above, Il Baretto is an established and much loved Italian, often name-checked by wellknown local residents, which balances classic Italian dishes with some more inventive and decadent plates. Particular highlights include the tagliolini with scallops and saffron, the salt baked sea bream and veal Milanese. The basement restaurant is a perfect autumn and winter dining space, and is smartly and fashionably designed making it ideal for a gathering with friends. www.ilbaretto.co.uk