Haymarket’s Assaggetti

When you’re living in London, it’s rare to do touristy things. We all pass Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace on a daily basis. But if you suggest to your friends the idea of visiting them or standing in a line to gain entry, it’s normally to see a Mexican wave of eyebrows being raised incredulously.

Up until now, I’ve only been to the Tower of London and gone on the London Eye. Going round in one of those pods was a strange experience. I looked down at the London landscape and rather than picking out famous spots such as Nelson’s Column and St Paul’s, I was only reminded of places that I’d worked as a sub-editor and a point on the Millennium Bridge where I had once been chased by someone’s errant dog.

But once in a while it’s quite charming to join the swarming throngs with their fanny packs and looks of wonder. When I was working near to Piccadilly Circus I would regularly curse all those dawdling around Eros and wearing their ‘I ♥ London’ baseball caps but now far removed, I’m prone to extend a little London welcome to those being fleeced in this wondrous city of ours.

Theatreland is another of London’s landmarks and there are many restaurants around here that are looking to entice visitors for a pre-theatre meal. The new player on the scene is Assaggetti, an Italian venue with oak tables and a sparkling chandelier in the centre of the room.

The emphasis at Assaggetti is small dishes and my companion and I kicked off with a brace of starters each. My first dish of calamari was a little pallid although the squid was far from rubbery. The other choice of meatballs was much better with the meat being sturdy and juicy. My companion was happy with his Tuscan ham although the mussels were drab with a distinct lack of flavour.

The small plate philosophy of the restaurant is maintained in the main course section with the choice of having a small or large portion. Taking advantage of this flexibility, I went for the potato gnocchetti and gorgonzola as well as straccetti, which are flavoured strips of beef. The gnocchetti were a little heavy and hard-going but the straccetti was very light. My companion went for a full portion of Tuscan sausage and declared himself more than fully satisfied.

One should not come to Assaggetti looking for a five-star meal. However, it is a restaurant that knows the crowd it is catering for and does so well. The food is pretty good value and the service is informed and swift. For those looking for a quick bite to eat before watching a show, Assaggetti delivers a nifty and well thought out experience.

Assaggetti
71 Haymarket
Piccadilly Circus
SW1Y 4RW

Tel: 020 7839 3939

Image by manda_wong courtesy of Flickr