Panella — Restaurant in London

A recent trip to Sicily and obsession with the local cuisine led us to Panella - apparently London’s finest Sicilian, going by the countless raving reviews. I’m not going to pretend the near-2-hour odyssey to the promised lands from SW London on not one, not two but three (!) stiflingly hot London buses was an enviable experience, but did it disappoint? No, no it did not. In fact it exceeded all possible expectations. On entering I was immediately transported back to the unassuming backstreet trattorias of Palermo, with a rustic layout, simple menu and various appetising antipasti on display behind the counter. The recommendation of the two pasta dishes of the day - rigatoni with cauliflower, saffron, roasted almonds and gnocchi with sea bass and cherry tomatoes - together less than £20, was 🤌. Satisfied but in need of a lil something to quench our sweet tooth we moseyed on over once more to the counter where a veritable exhibition of baked goodies greeted us. The arancini were lookin mighty appealing and it was difficult to resist the chocolate / pistachio-enveloped tart sat proudly on a pedestal, just BEGGING to be bought, briefly cherished and then swiftly savoured (in that order). But ultimately it was the prospect of a cannolo with an unidentified but irresistibly scrumptious creamy filling that surpassed all other possibilities. Sold effortlessly to us by the lovely woman behind the counter, never have I parted with £1.80 more readily than right then. 11/10, would come...

Genuinely the best iced coffee I’ve had and that isn’t even the best part! The atmosphere in this place is absolutely indescribable, the instantaneous warmth you feel when you enter is wonderful and the beaming smiles of the staff make it feel like you’re at your nona’s house :) The cozy decor reminds me of a rustic Italian cafe and the food is absolutely delicious too ! This place is an absolute gem in the heart of west London. I cannot praise this place enough, and everyone that works here is an absolute delight, especially the owners. This place was recommended to me by my brother who has become a regular in the past few months because of its authenticity and all round beautiful vibe. If you want to smile, enjoy a tasty coffee and and eat some delicious food then this is the place for...

I may have failed to realise what an absolute gem of a cafe Panella is due to it being on my doorstep and taken for granted. The food is authentic and flavoured with heaps of love. Caterina and Giuseppe are true delights and if you don’t leave with a full belly (highly unlikely) you will leave with full hearts thanks to the warmth this sweet couple serve daily. Everything is prepared and made fresh each day. On top of this they also run a regular people’s kitchen, offering a meal to those in need and also a chance to volunteer (for those eager to glean knowledge from the maestro Giuseppe) Top tip: try the Panelle and if you are lucky to get a look in, the Arancini or Tye even rarer...