Most Italian cooking is based on the best dishes of grandmother (‘nonna’) but here at Zia Lucia it is all about auntie’s (zia in Italian). Pizzas with a twist are served here – charcoal, wholemeal or gluten-free bases as well as the traditional dough – but they still maintain that unmistakable taste of Italy with generous toppings of the spicy sausage nduja, anchovies or the back-to-basics marinara made with just passata and oregano marinara.
Living with an Italian who swears by Zia Lucia must be the ultimate seal of approval and thought to give this branch tucked away on a street behind Olympia a try and it did not disappoint. There are two other locations, one on the lively Holloway Road (the same people have recently opened a pasta restaurant next door) which does not take reservations for groups smaller than 8 people, so expect to join the queue which normally starts to form from around 6pm and at Wembley.
The beer selection isn’t too bad either; a nice change from the usual Peroni, with bottles available from the Islington-based Hammerton Brewery as well as an Italian gluten-free brew all ready to help you wash down the dough.
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The people of Bonnington Square really know how to foster a vibe with leafy exotic plants spraying scattered shadows as you sit and eat...
by
From focaccia to pasta, coffee to cake, this one-stop shop is as much a place to buy your brew and bread as it is to have a lunchtime bite of pasta...
by
Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is the home of the finest scotch egg in London.
by
Birds sing while trains rumble along atop the parallel railway arches, old men play boule in the shade and planes skim overhead on approach to Heathrow.
by
From the run-down chic aesthetic to the strong beer selection and excellent pub garden, there are no chinks in the Dog House's armour...
by
Inside, the bar is a welcoming, tightly-packed vibe with old-fashioned, old-world decor with gorgeous bare wood surfaces & countless pictures on the walls.
by
The unassuming, retro signage outside amidst the noise & din of Waterloo might pull you in, but what makes you stay is the genuine town tavern feel inside.
by
With a rustic French feel, Pierre offers dishes with rich red-wine sauces and tasty meats from much of the spectrum of the French culinary roster.
by
With old-fashioned vintage Guinness branding adoring just about every surface, this is the ideal spot to take a moment and enjoy a perfectly-poured pint.
by
Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
by
Inside, the rooms have distinctly different decorative styles. This is to give an idea of how the house would have looked at each stage in its history.
by
222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 222 Insider Tips