Padella

The food is tasty and the portion sizes were quite generous! Definitely a bigger portion size than I expected. Between two people, 3 different pasta dishes would be a bit too much. Great value though! The starters were great and for the pasta, lots of people rave about the beef shin ragu which was tasty but didn’t blow my socks off. My favourite was probably the Gorgonzola pasta.

Padella delivers exactly what London does best right now: simple food, done exceptionally well, in a buzzy, effortlessly cool setting. Tucked just off Old Street, it’s a modern pasta bar with industrial interiors and an open kitchen that adds to the energy of the room. The focus is firmly on fresh, hand-rolled pasta, and it shows. Dishes like cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu are rich, comforting and packed with flavour, made using high-quality ingredients without unnecessary fuss. The menu is concise but thoughtfully curated, offering a mix of classics and seasonal variations that keep things interesting. What makes Padella stand out is its balance between quality and accessibility. Prices remain relatively reasonable for London, making it an ideal spot for a date night or relaxed dinner with friends. The atmosphere is lively and often crowded, so booking is wise, but the buzz is part of the appeal. That said, portions can feel slightly modest, and the focus is very much on pasta, so expectations should be set accordingly. Overall, Padella Shoreditch lives up to the hype: stylish, energetic and reliably excellent pasta.

Pasta is always consistently delicious; perfectly cooked with rich, well-balanced flavors that never disappoint. The quality never drops, whether it’s busy or quiet, and you can really tell care goes into both the ingredients and preparation. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are attentive without being intrusive, making it a place I’ll definitely keep coming back to.

The pasta at Padella was so good and definitely lives up to the hype! The portions are small though so worth ordering a few pastas and sharing. The bruchetta and buratta were good too! My only qualm was that they don’t stock coke, they have their own cola which I didn’t like - but that’s just personal preference.