Angelina specialises in Italian-Japanese cuisine.
And before you’re filled with horror at the prospect of sushi pizza… let us assure you that the results are extremely good.
See, this cross-continental culinary jaunt isn’t merely a gimmick. Italian and Japanese cuisines have, when you consider it, a surprising amount of overlapping links in the Venn diagram of foodstuffs. They both champion raw fish (sushi and crudo). They both enjoy the liberal use of noodles. And they can certainly both do good things with a few grains of rice.
Perched a little way down Dalston Lane, away from the busy thoroughfare, the restaurant is a suave little number dressed in black and white. Push back the heavy dark velvet curtain sweeping round the entrance, and you’ll find yourself in a dining room that serves just as well as a bright, airy lunch spot by day as a romantic, murmur-filled date spot by night, lit dimly by candlelight and the swaying of a few large rattan woven lanterns overhead.
Sharply delineating the back of the room is the marble dining counter, surrounding an open kitchen. Behind it, you’ll spot head chef Daniele Ceforo (formerly of Café Murano and Bocca di Lupo) and his team putting together elegant small plates. You can either pick and choose à la carte, or plump for the five course taster menu, with an optional Italian wine pairing. Along with a daily special (and vegetarian/vegan options), those dishes include the likes of unagi (eel) risotto with burnt soy butter and dashi; tempura battered fritto misto; onglet with radicchio; and black sesame pannacotta with milk chocolate.
Midway through your subtly seasoned Sicilian prawn crudo, you might just notice a door behind you. That door leads to Angelina’s intimate hidden bar; a room seating no more than about 6, where you can sip on drinks like the Gianduja Coupe; a blend of Gianduja Italian chocolate, espresso, Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and Nikka whisky. In here, the atmosphere is moody and clandestine, helped along by a strict no phones rule…
…so there won’t be any bleeping interruptions.
NOTE: Angelina is open for dinner Wed-Sun, plus lunch on weekends. To find out more, and book, head HERE.
Angelina | 56 Dalston Lane, E8 3AH
Like Asian-European restaurants? Try the Chinese-Portuguese influenced dishes at Tayēr + Elementary