Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 27th May 2014
LARDO'S SPRING MENU
La dolce vita in London Fields
Location
On Richmond Road, Lardo is part of the landscape, surrounded by a host of good (Franco Manca) and not so good (erm…Dominos) Italian joints.
Vibe
Lardo has all the fixings of a neighbourhood gem: communal tables, a buzzing Hackney crowd, and charming service.
Flavours
Fresh, hearty and adventurous. The ever-changing menu at Lardo is dictated by the seasonal, locally sourced produce that is delivered to the kitchen daily, so don’t bet on getting the same dish twice. They’re serious about charcuterie for good reason: the fennel pollen salami was fragrant, unusual and instantly addictive. Next, we tried focaccia seasoned with rosemary and topped with the restaurant’s eponymous, melt in your mouth lardo - let’s just say we understand why they named the entire restaurant after it. As for the all important pizza? Fresh from the wood fired oven, the spicy ’nduje, pepper and provolone pizza was perfectly crisp and moreish. Then onto the pastas. Just like mama used to make, these are cooked from scratch - classicists should choose the indulgent nettle tagliatelle with a cream and mushroom sauce, while the daring have options like dandelion ravioli (things never get boring here). Finally, to drink, try the zingy StellaSpritz, an aperitif combining homemade pompelmocello and prosecco, or go for a bottle from the small but discerning Italian wine list.
Décor
The London Fields look: low lights, high ceilings and reclaimed wood. Bar stools surround an open kitchen, which hosts the piece de resistance, a disco ball wood fired oven (yes, really).
Upshot
Lardo’s partner in crime, Coppa, is re-opening its rooftop this month, complete with deckchairs, drinks, an Italian-style BBQ, and sunshine galore (well, we can’t promise that last bit, but fingers crossed)./p>
