Bancone Covent Garden
Covent Garden, London
Hand-crafted pasta is king at this sleek Covent Garden venue, and passers-by can watch as the virtuoso chefs fashion all manner of sheets, ribbons and parcels in the front window of the restaurant. Bancone means ‘bar’ or ‘counter’ and the best perches are at the expanse of shiny marble that runs the full length of the long, narrow space (although readers warn that it can get hot). Alternatively, diners can book a place at one the smart booths in the atmospheric dining area (think exposed ducts, Edison light bulbs, grey leather banquettes). The restaurant’s serially Instagrammed showstopper is the poetically named ‘silk handkerchiefs’ – soft, glistening rectangles of fazzoletti dressed with walnut butter, sprinkled with nuggets of crunchy walnut and topped with a golden confit egg yolk. Other artisan pasta hits might range from mafalde with spicy pork and ‘nduja ragù to tagliatelle with Cornish cod or rigatoni with salt-baked celeriac, almond and lemon. Bold regional flavours also come to the fore in antipasti such as fried polenta chips with Gorgonzola or a kale salad involving soft egg and bottarga (cured mullet roe), while desserts bring limoncello semifreddo or praline cannoli with crystallised hazelnuts. Prosecco and reasonably priced Italian wines (from £27) are supplemented by a ‘cellar’ list of more prestigious bottles.
Dining Information:
Private dining room, Wheelchair access, Family friendly
39 William IV Street, Covent Garden WC2N 4DD
020 7240 8786
