Sud Italia — Restaurant in London

Sud Italia in Spitalfields Market offers a mixed bag of experiences, leaning heavily on the quality of its pizza to draw in the crowds. Let’s start with the good: the pizza itself is top-notch for the price. Made in a proper pizza oven by a dedicated chef with impeccable focus, it’s a delightfully authentic slice that stands head and shoulders above typical street food fare, even if it’s no Michelin contender.

The logistical side of the operation, however, leaves much to be desired. The two ladies at the till appeared as though they were counting down the minutes to closing time, their demeanor suggesting that customers were more of a nuisance than a source of income. One in particular exuded an air of hostility so strong that one might fear being sued for merely glancing in her direction.

To make matters worse, this same surly server was seen handling the till, drinks, and food with her bare hands, without any sanitizing in between. This lack of basic hygiene is enough to make anyone think twice about returning. Overheard complaints from other patrons about the questionable hygiene practices, combined with the observation that the cheapest pizza was only £5, paint a less-than-flattering picture of the establishment’s overall service quality.

In summary, Sud Italia excels where it matters most: the pizza. Yet, the service and hygiene practices detract significantly from the experience. It’s a place worth visiting for the food, but be prepared for a side of surly service and potential...

One of the best pizzas I have had outside of Italy, and a pretty decent price for a margherita! The pizza dough is beautifully charred and has a lovely flavour. The tomato base is slightly sweet and very fresh. The mozzarella is sensational, gloriously gooey which hardens slightly as it cools to provide the perfect texture and mouth feel. The basil on top is a great addition also. It's also super speedy to whip up and you can watch it be made right in front of you! We were lucky to get seating on a bench nearby in Spitalfields Market to enjoy this masterpiece I cannot wait to go back, and plan to try their famous wallet pizza next time!

September 2023 Update - I have been to Sud Italia before, having their Classic Margherita and really enjoying every aspect of it - the pizza dough, tomato, and mozzarella. I returned recently to try their pizza portafoglio and was again, definitely not disappointed. This had the same freshness as the Margherita I had previously, the tomatoes the perfect level of sweetness, the cheese plentiful and lovely in flavour, and the dough perfectly cooked and slightly charred on the edges - a true neapolitan pizza! I would say to be a bit careful when eating this, as it can get a bit messy and the centre can be very hot (as that's where much of the sauce and cheese is!). Nevertheless, the taste is definitely worth getting a little bit messy, so I will definitely be returning and recommend anyone grabbing a bite from here - especially at the incredible...

At the end of the day, you give me a pizza I can't fault and you get maximum marks. Well done guys.

Compare it to somewhere like Crisp in Hammersmith which has a lot of buzz but definitely has faults and is overpriced and this is why I give Sud Italia five stars but Crisp only gets four.

Friendly staff, good service despite how busy they are, great venue in Spitalfields. All that stuff is nice but if you want to focus on just the pizza then you won't be disappointed. The toppings taste high quality and fresh, especially the cheese. The crust was perfect. Just go there and enjoy a great pizza that they somehow produce out of a van. Well done to the guys making it, you can see them working really hard in there.

If you want a quick cheap option get the portafoglio, you won't regret it. But their regular sized more expensive (but not overpriced) pizzas are...