Strada - Parkway NW1
Review by Veronica Blake
IT’S hard to believe that Strada are part of a chain, each restaurant has its own unique quality.
The Hanover Square branch bustling with Conde Nast ladies toying with their Spinach salad is totally different from the branch in Camden Town or Islington.
What each branch shares in common is good quality, reasonably priced Italian food and wine.
An icy gale blew down Camden High Street and it was a real effort to leave the house, but it was the awful post Xmas lull when you really just cannot face another turkey sandwich.
The warm aroma of wood fired pizzas and garlic was the perfect antidote to that Xmas limbo which stretches to New Year’s Day. I was surprised to see how many had braved the arctic night, as the restaurant was more than half full.
The staff are charming. Our Polish waitress recommended the specials of the day which included a really delicious garlicky linguini with clams, chilli and fresh tomato sauce.
My friend could not resist the aroma of the wood fired pizzas and ordered the Rustica.. one of the most enormous I’ve ever seen. Just as well she was wearing a Kaftan! With its layers of tomato, chargrilled Neapolitan sausage, baby artichokes, onions and fresh oregano, it smelt wonderful.
Our waitress told us she had spent Xmas teaching herself Shiatsu and felt re-energised. She planned to work in alternative medicine. At her recommendation, we chose a bottle of Puglian red.
I love soups and was tempted by the Zuppa Di pasta e Fagiola, but felt it would be as filling as a main course. Strada have really captured that sense of Cucina Rustica Italiana unlike any of the other Italian chains.
The Italian chefs, all rosy cheeks from the open ovens, clearly take a pride in their work, as do the waitresses.
There’s an interesting selection of mains if you do not want to opt for pizza or pasta. Braised lamb shank in olive oil and sage potato puree and tomato sauce. Seared tuna with cannelloni beans, rosemary and garlic with roasted cherry tomatoes and sautéed chicken with tomato and basil sauce with green beans and herbed roasted potatoes.
The desert menu is your typical calorific Italian fare. The Crostata di Fragole, fresh strawberry, mascarpone and vanilla tart. There are five types of coffee from espresso macchiato to cappuccino. They very kindly even managed to rustle up some warming hot chocolate for us before we braved the arctic night outside.
I haven’t visited Strada during the summer but I can tell you for comforting food in a cosy atmosphere on a winter night it would be hard to beat.
Strada,
40 Parkway,
NW1
Tel: 020 7428 9653
Two courses with wine £25