Padella

Stumbling out of my wine tasting class with WSET, hungry from the 7 hour gap after lunch. I thought I take a chance at Padella for some pasta dinner. It was already coming up to 9 pm and a sign outside said that there was no more avaliablity. You see Padella operates a no booking policy, you just have to rock up on the day and leave your name down in hope for a seat inside. Lucky the lady attending the queue line told me she made sure I can get a seat with a 10-minute wait and I did. 

no bookings policy

Padella has been on my list to go for a while with many people raving about how affordable and amazing it is. Located across London Bridge station next to Borough market it is the prime location for foodies. Padella is dreamed up by the Tim & Jordan from Trullo restaurant. Ever since Zucca closed its doors I needed a new place for my Italian pasta fix.  

Inside of Padella

Guided down to the tiny basement of Padella seated up by the bar on the high stools, overlooking the kitchen and staff preparing desserts and drinks, maybe discomforting but it be worth it. 

The menu is short and precise, antipasta options of bread, olives, bruschetta, burrata etc with prices from £2 and just pasta options for mains. Beer and wines also comes cheap per a glass. 

Ordering one of favourite dishes pappardelle with 8 hours dexter beef shin ragu and lemon tart. 

Pasta Heaven

The main event of pappardelle was hoovered up quickly. Thin 3-4 centimeters ribbons rolled up against each other unravelled shredded pieces of beef shin ragu. Oil in the sauce is seen spreading across the white plate. The meat is heavily seasoned with black pepper and the very fine shavings of parmesan started to melt and stick between the pasta. The pasta outshines the sauce, smooth and incredibly fresh all made in-house daily. 

Dessert, yes please

Leon tart was a perfect way to end the meal and cleanse of palette from my wine drinking session. Sharp on taste buds and creamy lemon baked custard in crumbly pastry shell. A spoon of light cream accompanied the dessert and refreshed the taste buds from the sharp taste.  

Lemon tart

Padella is a remarkable very affordable place for fresh different kinds of pasta it would have been better if portions were slightly bigger but you can’t go wrong for the average of £10. Don’t mind the queues they go down really quickly I was seated and dined within the hour of kitchen closing time.  

 6 Southwark St, London SE1 1TQ