Spuntino: a sexy new soho institution

The london foodie blogosphere was alight, alive, no not literally, but rather buzzing with the news that Russell Norman (of Polpo, Polpetto fame) had finished and opened his new venture "Spuntino", which is Italian for  "snacking" (how very apt as the concept of the restaurant is to share small dishes of everything; great marketing as people will order more food). And what better place to meet fellow food blogger Hanna, author of Swedish Meatball. It ended up to be a lovely evening of shared love of Ottolenghi, Borough Market and Bone Marrow! (Hopefully I'll be added to her 'most read' list now!) 


After a prompt arrival of tap water in lovely glass spheres along with a small can of popcorn I ordered my usual Negroni. My companion had a pinot bianco. (Might I add the prices are ridiculously reasonable! Just around the corner at Bocca Di Lupo a cocktail is over 10 quid!) The bartender made my drink right in front of me (and really, why don't they always do this?) I knew exactly how much vermouth, gin and campari he put in (A minor criticism though: it didn't have enough ice...a Negroni always needs to be "on the rocks", sorry) 


We were both starving and because I needed to rush off to my play rehearsal up in Hampstead we went straight for the food blogging favourites:

Eggplant chips & fennel yoghurt 

Eggplant chips with fennel yoghurt, crisp, not too oily and the perfect appetizer. We were given these free of charge! I don't know why that was (probably because its the opening and they want a good word of mouth) or perhaps my sad attempt at making conversation with the bartender paid off (because apparently they use Cinzano vermouth, not your usual "Martini Rosso" which he told me was "a lot sweeter" yes much) Delicious.

Truffle egg toast and beet salad with salted ricotta

The infamous 'truffle egg toast' was not as good as the blogosphere had suggested; a tad dry, the egg wasn't runny. Maybe that was just a kitchen error. The salad was a perfect accompaniment to the saltiness of the beef and bone marrow slider though (which was rather "meh") and of course...the ultimate, no, the brilliant, stupendous 'mac and cheese'.

Beef and bone marrow slider

the 'ultimate' mac & cheese

Do you feel the love?

Oh. my. god. It was so good. I can't say anymore. I don't think I've ever tasted anything that good. More please

The ambience is sex. 

It was in short, a memorable evening and I did spy Russell Norman in the corner. That said, I loved the Johnny Cash playing in the background. I could even imagine a crooner in one of those dusty corners serenading us as we devour our sliders, mac and cheese and (next time) peanut butter and jelly dessert. 


Note: They don't reservations so get in there early or else you'll end up standing up for hours...and watching all that food...


Rating: 9/10





And in other news, there is an interview I did with the Heat & Light company on their blog: http://hampsteadtheatresyoungcompany.blogspot.com/2011/03/hotlight-on-writer-jingan-young.html#comments