Two Holborn Italians

Meeting up one evening with friends G&P we go to an Italian they recommend in Red Lion Street - Isolabella.  It helps that there is a 50% off food offer! We were early so stopped for a quick glass in another Italian nearby, Bacco Restaurant and Wine Bar.  I’m not that familiar with Italian grape varieties, so I ask the friendly waiter for something similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, and he recommends the Pecorino Trabocchetto Talamonti . It is fruity and yet dry, so a pretty good choice at £7.50 a large glass.  We are also served a bowl of breads (even though we’d made it clear we weren’t having lunch there), including the wafer thin Sardinian bread, carta di musica.  The place was filling up even though it was early, so it may well be worth trying out another time.

 We see our friends go by, so drink up and go to find them in Isolabella.  We order the Verdicchio Classico, while G&P go for the Primitivo.  I had the Bresaola with rocket and parmesan, which was good,  while G and asparagus with egg, and P the smoked salmon.  For main course I have the liver Venezia, which has very caramelised onions; B has the fillet medallions with green pepper and brandy sauce, while G&P both choose Saltimbocca alla Romana. We also have side dishes of sautéed potatoes, garlic mushrooms and fried courgettes in a lovely light batter.

The place is pretty full, with a nice warm and relaxed atmosphere, and the waiters both friendly and efficient.   With the discount (which works out at just over £50), the bill is £122, so it would have been a bit pricey at full price.  But at the reduced price, It was a very enjoyable and satisfying evening.

Wine bar near Regent Street

WINE BAR NEAR REGENT STREET

Shampers in Kingly Street is an attractive little wine bar, tucked round the back just off Regent Street. It’s not a very big place and it’s always been very busy when we’ve been before, full of what appear to be regulars, so we’ve had to drink at the bar. This time four of us are having an early dinner before going to Ronnie Scott’s, so we have booked. There are a few empty tables, while the others are occupied by people finishing late and boozy looking lunches.

It has a very French feel, with posters and paintings for sale.  Actually it looks very similar to our old regular haunt, the Cork and Bottle in Leicester Square, and when we enquired apparently it was once part of the same group, but was sold off back in 1991.

We order the wine first, Montarels Viognier Côtes de Thongue Languedoc 2011 at £22 - very fruity. There’s quite a selection of specials on the board, as well as a fairly wide range on the menu.  For starters, S and V both have the pan-fried squid with chilli and ginger, which was well-received. B has the prawns , also with chilli, while I have the marinated anchovy fillets – both very good too.

Spinach featured strongly on the main course list.  S had calves liver and bacon with spinach and mash – she asked for it well done, and it came too pink, so she asked for it to be cooked some more, but even then it wasn’t to her taste.  B’s lamb fillet came with arrocina beans – and spinach – and was very tender.  To accompany my spinach, I had the char-grilled tuna steak with lentils – just this side of dry. Only V escaped, with her chicken sandwich (doorstep size) accompanied by chips and salad.

Between us we shared a pot au chocolat and a crème brulee for dessert – both very good.  So overall we were impressed with the food and the room. The only downside was the rather surly waitress, who was itching to get to the end of her shift.  With 3 bottles of wine and 12.5% service this came to £190 – less than £50 a head, so not bad for central London.