Lina Stores

Fresh pasta in London is nothing new (and it seems to be bigger than ever), but Soho institution Lina Stores still manages to stand out in the battle of the carbs.

Décor and Vibe

First things first: Lina Stores’ outdoor counter seating is where you’ll find us for most of the summer. Al fresco in Soho is rare, and we love this take on it. Upstairs at Lina is bright, airy and buzzy, with counter dining and an open kitchen, and downstairs has a more cosy vibe: think pastel accents, bare brick walls, monogrammed tables and low lighting, with a bar at the back.

Food

If you know Lina Stores’ iconic deli, you’ll probably know that their speciality is fresh pasta – and it’s no different in their restaurant. That being said, you shouldn’t write anything that isn’t pasta off the menu – we tried their ‘nduja con ricotta, prosciutto di Parma and pork belly sandwich (a new lunchtime fave) before moving on to the main event and all were unmissable. And then, there’s the pasta. Our highlights were the ricotta and herb gnudi with sage and brown butter (like gnocchi, but made with cheese instead of potato, #UJLoves) and the veal ravioli with wild garlic – we’ll be dreaming of those delicious meaty pillows for a while.

Drink

It’s almost obligatory to start off with a negroni here, but we’d recommend the rhubarb sour too, if only for how well the pink hues go with the décor. The wine list is nice and concise, and the coffee is smooth (sadly we were too full for dessert).

Highlight

The atmosphere. Lina Stores is buzzy but not overcrowded, and the service is great.

Top Tip

If there are two of you, order four plates of pasta. The portions are designed to be small and allow you to taste more, and you won’t regret it.