Vasiniko — Restaurant in London

This is a very good pizza, Neapolitan style, made well and served with a warm smile and kind, polite, fast and efficient service. It was a big table, 8 of us, and we had the parmigiana to start with, the frittatine di pasta, and the crocche di patate, all shared fairly by the whole table. The parmigiana was incredibly good, very well made, it tasted like home. So were the frittatine and the crocche. Make no mistake, this is not your average-sized crocche di patate, this is humongous, perfect to be shared. Then came the pizzas, and they were very good. It was hard to believe they were made in an electric oven. The service was outstanding, really, really good, they all made us feel at home. The final touch was bringing the limoncello bottle at the table, and just leaving it there for us to enjoy. This is the kind of gesture that it is normal in an environment like Sunday lunch at home with the whole family, after the desserts have been eaten, when the host ( generally the mum, or the grandmother), after the coffee, asks if the family would like a digestive treat. At this point the whole bottle of limoncello is brought to the table, and everyone can just help themselves to as many small sips as they deem appropriate. And that is what happened in London, Covent Garden, where the exceptional service felt like we were at home. Thank you to the manager ( he is from the Abruzzo region in Italy, and I sadly do not recall his name ) and all the staff that like after us ! I highly recommend this. Lastly, this is located in a small street, Adelaide street, just a few metres from the ghastly Oscar Wilde sculpture, near the back of St Martins in the field, but do not let the location deter you. You can book in advance and there is a bigger space for dining...

This offshoot of the original Vasiniko in Covent Garden is tucked away just off The Strand, near Charing Cross, in a pedestrian area adjacent to St Martin-in-the-Fields.

The restaurant spans two levels with large front windows. The ground floor has a bright, vibrant atmosphere albeit is minimalistic basic interior while the slightly larger lower ground floor—where the restrooms are located—offers a quieter, more spacious setting.

Pizza Vasiniko serves some of the best pizzas in London. The crust is thick yet crisp, with an authentic Italian-style base that stands out for its flavour and texture.

Diavolissima A spicy and indulgent option with a creamy ’Nduja base, fior di latte, spicy salami, stracciatella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Rich, punchy, and satisfying.

Capricciosa Classic San Marzano DOP tomato base with fior di latte, ham, black olives, and artichokes, finished with basil and EVO oil. Served with a side of fried artichoke – creamy and savoury, it paired beautifully with the ham.

Pizzas are big enough to share. We had two between three.

Drinks & Service The Negroni was serviceable but not memorable.

The tiramisu was dessert was good, not overly sweet like in some places and therefore more cream based. Shareable between two or three.

Service was fine – nothing to fault, but not particularly...

I ordered the Salsiccia E Friarelli pizza (special, white base, Italian sausage and basil). The pizza dough is really fluffy and unusual. Personally I found the crust on the larger side, and would say that this pizza would have been way better with a tomato sauce (I know it's intentionally done without, but it feels imbalanced flavour-wise). One slice is nice, but beyond that the flavour gets too samey (namely, sausage overload) - and I've never felt this with other pizzas in general (including meaty ones as well as Margheritas).

The Croquettone Mortadella and Straciatella was surprising in size - and was a good option to share. Although it had a good cheese flavour, it tasted like it was reheated rather than fried fresh - the texture of the filling wasn't super smooth and only lukewarm. Reckon this would be amazing fresh - maybe it's luck of the draw..?

Whilst the service here is fine, people continually looked in through the window and congregated outside which really ruins the dining experience if seated near...