“Spuntino” an American small bar and restaurant that serve a casual dining menu. It has two locations one in soho, london and the other one in cargo 2 Bristol. The have the most delicious mac n cheese I ever taste.
A very nice place with a special vibe of its own. Good choice of music. However, it becomes so loud on evenings. Try their burger, fries, mac n cheese and their super delicious cheesecake.
The burger + shoestring fries = perfection.
Do wish they'd handle the busy periods a bit better - perhaps text customers when a table is ready rather than turning away those who've braved porn alley to visit.
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Came here for dinner as my friend I was visiting had heard very good things about the place. We got there and the place was very small, and obviously a popular spot as there was a queue on a Wednesday night. Subsequently we had to wait about 20 minutes to get a seat. In the meantime we were able to order a nice bottle of red wine. Whilst we were waiting we could see other people receiving their food orders and everything looked lovely!
When we were finally seated we ordered the rack of ribs with slaw, the pulled pork and jalapeño pizza, and the steak and eggs. Before the food came we were given some popcorn to keep us going until the food came. When the food arrived we really enjoyed it. Everything was cooked perfectly and the portion sizes were just about right.
The place is dark and small which gives an intimate feeling. I wouldn't come here with groups bigger than 4 as I don't feel you would be able to interact with everyone in your group. However, small groups and couples will love this place. The service from the bar staff is good and they are friendly.
I have never left Spuntino not drunk. This is a fact of life just like creepy pimps on Rupert Street or drinking pints in the freezing cold in Soho. And I like it. Another fact is that I never went to Spuntino sober either. Just like Bar Soho, or Dirty Burger, or Meat Liquor it is one of my favourite drunk magnets. It is a key facilitator of my age inappropriate “I shouldn’t but I will anyways” weeknight benders. You know, the ones you regret the next day but never learn from. I kind of like that, too.
Great food can be got in London at a very acceptable cost
Tasty food and drink in this excellent follow-on to Polpo and Polpetto. Great addition to the Polpo and Polpetto people's burgeoning group of restaurants. Everything was good but the highlights were the cocktails, the sliders (pork and lamb preferred over prawn) and the hamburger. It's deservedly very popular so you need to get there early.
No bookings, ugghh. I really enjoy the food and the service is excellent, but I am blown away by the no booking trend that is happening in London. When there is a busy time, people are queueing for such a long time everyone, the staff, diners, etc. have an awful atitude and a scowl on their faces.
Great beer great sliders. Yes it's a groovy place
Food is nice
Have a good pale on tap
Mac n cheese is real good
Well done
Go early if you don't want to queue. I went before 12 on a Monday lunchtime (not an option all might go for, I agree), walked straight in, and got served quickly.
The complimentary chilli oil popcorn was an excellent touch (I'll be trying that one myself), and I also really enjoyed the pork slider and the Mac & Cheese.
When I left at about 12.40 it was still pretty quiet.
Fun and full of foody love. Arriving early on a Saturday night, we had less than half an hour soaking up the atmosphere and having a drink while waiting for some bar space to open up. Loved the buzz of the place, we were well-attended by the wait staff, and while we had our pre-dinner drinks salivated over the menu.
We went all out with the delicious food, but the stand outs were the sliders, soft shell crab (the batter was just right on ours, and the fennel salad the perfect fresh accompaniment), aubergine chips, and the peanut butter and jelly dessert.
It was a slightly noisy, slightly cramped place to eat, but that was part of the laidback, fun atmosphere that was perfect for the laidback, fun, but gormet-esque food.
Will definitely return.
Awesome. Can eat through the menu with ease. Twice. Then there's THAT peanut butter sandwich; a work of genius.
Spuntino. A really atmospheric haunt, with friendly, welcoming staff.
The food is basic, yet still inventive and tasty. Must tries include the sliders and the very special Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich.
Only one beer available and it's a beauty. London Pale Ale from the Meantime Brewing Co. Amazing!
First up, my choice - Spuntino. An upscale American diner with hints of Italian and food designed for sharing. The restaurant is dimly lit with exposed walls and low hanging light bulbs. It is quintessentially cool. Probably a bit too cool for us regular folk but we loved the atmosphere all the same. Spuntino is centred around a large bar. The food is served and eaten at the bar and there are further high tables at the end of the restaurant. Like many other places in Soho, Spuntino does not take reservations.
Victoria “Mrs” Petticoat
+4.5
The waiting staff were aloof yet helpful and oh so cool. What an excellent spot for people watching.
Spuntino is so… Soho - it's New York-inspired, exposed lightbulbs and brickwork and it serves 'comfort food', possibly at a huge mark-up (which is another thing that doesn't really occur to me normally - what are you really getting for your money?), but I do like it. I visited the other day for lunch.
Spuntino is a down and dirty American diner, transported it seems from the mean streets of New York City into the grittier end of Soho, right next to a bar of questionable repute. The interior is that kind of derelict space that costs an absolute bucketload but had it been authentic grit, would have you reaching for that hand sanitiser faster than you can say Inner city. In keeping with all that trendy, it’s No Reservations, not even a phone number, oh no, that would interfere with the vibe of it all and while usually that sort of thing drives me bananas, this isn’t a place to come with a group, it’s designed for solo diners, 2 friends, maybe 3 at a stretch and so reservations are something you can do without. While we wait, we stand along one side and get busily stuck into a bottle of Prosecco, with Tumblers to drink out of. Come on, this is Soho. To be fair, it’s only around 20 minutes or so before we’re tucked in at one end of the bar, the area towards the door has a lot more
Rich, smooth peanut butter ice cream, sweet, tart raspberry jam sandwiched between, and completely covered in candied nuts. Epic.
Calamari with chickpeas and ink. A very colourful dish - lightly cooked squid with rocket, tomato, chickpeas and squid ink. It was a mild, comforting dish in contrast with some of the the other heavier dishes we had.
This place has no reservations so you have to wait for a table unless you go at an odd hour like 4pm. The staff are too cool for school, think tattoo’s, fringes and skinny jeans, but both times I’ve been they were friendly and professional. Ground Beef and Bone Marrow Slider...Juicy burger, great flavour, my favourite dish.
We arrived at around 2.30pm to relative tranquillity and no queues. And, we sat at the bar, with the little trough that holds water glasses and condiments and ordered the predictable but must be tried slider, skinny fries and truffled egg toast. I’m still alive and I kind of liked it. I went into Spuntino’s expecting street cool detachment and had visions of being thrown out for lack of appropriate hip clothing. The reality was a cosy bar with friendly staff and enough other punters not to make it feel dead. The food was really pretty good too. I could smell the truffle on the truffled egg toast, and if I happened to LIKE egg, then this rather gooey mess of egg, cheese and sliced bread seasoned with truffle would have been perfect for a wet spring day. Instead, I found space for a tiny but perfectly formed beef and bone marrow slider and
The tag line for Spuntinos is "no telephone, no reservations", but it may well have included "no sign". This is a place for people who read about food...Sat at the end of the bar we ordered a couple of small, but perfectly formed, Bloody Marys and were given a cup of freshly popped popcorn served with paprika and a lug of tasty oil
The mac n cheese is excellent – the product of extensive tasting trips to the US, I gather. I adore Spuntino: it’s exactly the kind of restaurant I do miss from New York, and never thought to find here. And the brilliant bit? The food is even better than that of its American counterparts. It’s all win in these parts.
Spuntino has found the unique niche as an all-day diner serving chic little plates in a deliberately rusty room.
I rarely venture into central London for dinner (I probably should), but as I was meeting a friend there anyway after work yesterday so we decided to check it out and see what all of the fuss is about. The restaurant is very small with only bar seating, apart from one table at the back. The style is New York-esque with low lighting and simple, rustic décor.
...Aubergine fritters with fennel yogurt - me and fritters usually get along well, and this was no exception.
In a perfect world casual little hole-in-the-walls like Spuntino - where you can pop in for a quick snack, cocktail or full blown feast - would exist on every street corner.
The beautifully cooked calamari was coated with the rich, black squid ink and served with a good balance of veg, consisting of spinach and red peppers.
Spuntino has little signage and is definitely going for a Prohibition feel – subdued lighting and a jazz music vibe. We joined the short queue just behind the bar and were promised a wait of no more than 20 minutes. We ordered drinks and were called to a place at the bar just a few minutes later. We appeared to have scored a “lovers perch” – a double bar stool barely wide enough for two non-model physiques. It wasn’t the most comfortable, and led to some clashing of elbows while eating, but we survived. As I mentioned earlier, Spuntino is not the place to linger – we were done and dusted in little over an hour. Most of the seating at Spuntino is on individual bar stools, but even they did not look the most inviting… I have seen bigger saucers!
The Pulled Pork was excellent though... Words escaped me as I took my first mouthful of juicy sweet pork and felt that welcome crunch of crackling as well. A smile just crept over my face as I quietly devoured it hoping no one would ask to try it.
As you get seated you’re served with a cup of freshly made popcorn to munch on as you pore over the menu
Spuntino, the new Russell Norman place, is The Boyfriend's dream restaurant. There is no booking or even a phone number to call to check how big the line up is. Not even a menu online. Sans restaurant reservation on Saturday and swayed by many good reviews, The Boyfriend and I decided to check it out. My rule with heading to restaurants without booking is eithe
Spuntino was quite cool, mismatching the dilapidated tiled walls and arches with a metallic American diners style bar.
Spuntino is going to be on my list of regular places to go - it will be a place I can escape reality for a few moments and regress happily.
spuntino is a cosmopolitan sophisticated diner. it is also the intersection at which new york meets london. it's façade is almost industrial and is somewhat incongruous in the middle of the gritty sexiness of soho. that industrial theme is felt inside as well with high ceilings and earthy tones giving this otherwise small space a feel of openness. credit definitely goes to nifty utilisation of space! there is a rectangular u-shaped bar seating that seats around twenty people and a small table in one corner. we were lucky to beat the queue by about fifteen minutes as the pace started to pick up around half six. spunito ticks all the boxes of being very very good for service, food and drinks. our well-tattooed server-cum-bartender was not only friendly but really good at walking us through cocktails based on our preferences. o and i started on clover clubs. this raspberry coloured cocktail has a dull sweetness where the raspberry has been muted by savoury elements. we both loved the att
Spuntino is the third venture from Russell Norman (previously operations director of Caprice), sister to Polpo and Polpetto. In this case the cuisine is American rather than Italian, but still with the “small plates” idea. Russell described the menu to me as “hangover food”, which seems pretty apt.
Spuntino is one of my favourite places in London, love the small dishes share idea, Brooklyn style, cool, trendy, radical, open seven days a week, no reservations, no telephone. Over a year and a half after its opening the place still delivers what they promise, a good time, and great food
...some words about the current bloggers' favourite. In this case I absolutely and completely agree with the Spuntino-Hype. It is an amazing place, so much fun! We went there on a Friday evening which is a mistake if you are hungry. As we knew what we were up against, I didn't mind waiting at this occasion. Spuntino is very small, around 25 or so seats around on the counter around the central bar area, and has a no booking policy. It's quite comfortable to queue leaning against the wall where there is also space to put down your drinks. Yes you get served in the queue and yes I was very drunk long before we got to sit down to order some food. I should probably mention at the point that Spuntino is the little brother of Polpo and Polpetto , we are talking creative restaurateurs here. rather nice dirty martinis , I think they were only 5£ or am I wrong? The menu, even though small, is f
Spuntino’s food has been sold (by other people) as sort of Italio-American sharing bites, which is, it turns out, the technical term for kids’ party food: burgers, pizzas, eggs and soldiers, mac cheese, stringfellow fries (they’re called ‘shoestring’ here: they’re stringfellow). Egg-wise I went fo
I came to bury, not to praise. After all, we don't really like a winner in this country, not if we're honest. And particularly not one who manages to make it appear so effortless. We prefer those who huff and puff and manage to succeed almost despite themselves, like Kenny Dalgleish. So Russell Norman, already the proprietor of two massively popular and critically lauded Italian tapas joints (Polpo and Polpetto as you're asking) was really pushing his luck. And how does he do with the third? Yawn, damn near faultless again... How bloody dull.
Last night I checked out Spuntino , Soho restaurant du-jour and latest offering from Russell Norman of Polpo and Polpetto fame. I was dining with one of my favourite bloggers, Gourmet Chick and we also got a visit from the equally fab Greedy Diva . To cap off the London blogger presence, the LondonFoodie was also in attendance! So there I was, surrounded by the cream of London food bloggers, in the super funky surroundings of a buzzy, totally "of the moment" eatery, being served delicious morsels (more on that shortly) - I felt very content and very "London". I couldn't remember what had been in this space before Spuntino but apparently it was a Tandoori restaurant, with the associated decor - but underneath the false walls was amazing tile-work and mosaics, possibly from a butcher's shop (Gourmet Chick and I had speculated either that or a public toilet, but in a good way...). Anyway it looks amazing, particularly in combination with the pressed metal ceiling and low lighting. There i
Although unmistakably from the Polpo stable - same reclaimed decor, same gorgeous tattooed staff, lights too low, music too loud, all creating a buzz like no other - the menu [at Spuntino] is much more Noo Yoiky, Italo-American than the neo-Venetian offering at its sibling sites.
I really wished I had eaten at Spuntino a lot earlier. Ie from day one. But I have this habit of letting a new restaurant flow for a couple of months before hitting its tables to sample the wares from the kitchen. But as this group had two restaurants running at full flow very close by, it should have put my mind at rest, but it didn't. I mean Marcus Waring's new restaurant hasn't received good reviews so far, and that is one place you'd expect to be at its best from day one. The neo industrial look inside Spuntino adds to its charm, with its chipped exposed white tiles, it's long dangly lights, the almost uncomfortable stools around the bar. The fact that the queue for seats is right behind you as you are eating, with the people in the queue staring into the back of your head willing you to eat faster and leave so they can sit down. I like the place. I thought I had enough of small plates. This fad of sharing your food with your dining partners I thought I would not be able to do anym
I've been waiting patiently for Spuntino to open in Soho for months. I watched the blue Indian restaurant move on, I watched the boards go up, and I watched the workmen move in. Then I leave London for 2 and a bit weeks, and it opens. The bloggers have been at it already, so you don't need all the details. But just in case you haven't heard, Spuntino is the 3rd restaurant in the line of gems brought to us by Russell Norman, the man behind Polpo and Polpetto . They all have a related look and feel - brickwork, exposed lighting, industrial type fittings. But Spuntino is more rock n roll. It has a totally cool view over the neon signs and street scenes of Soho's red light district, features a New Yorkish/American inspired menu and is now the closest one to my front door which means its become my new stop out for a negroni before beef sliders and shoe string fries. Sliders and beet salad It's tiny, with seats largely limited to those around the bar meaning its best to go in 2's or 3's only
The place is actually really groovy and the barmen are groovier. Totally cute in that moustached, 50′s Italian in NYC, lindy-hopping kinda way. And before you even order, they bring a serve of olive oil laced popcorn. Cute guys and popcorn. I sure ain’t complaining
By laissezfare Spuntino 61 Rupert Street London W1D 7PW Website Map Note: no reservations, no phone line As the name implies ('spuntino' means 'snack' in most of Italy), the menu consists of small plates, all of which are priced well below £10, aside from a dish or two The latest, smallest & funkiest Soho outpost from Russell Norman, Spuntino has a great ambience & is a lot of fun. They have concocted some great cocktails and the food is simple, satisfying & just that little bit different for London. It is a great place to drop by for a drink and/or a quick bite, but you could easily find yourself there many hours later, even if you came alone. In search of some comfort I was in London. I was working. It was late. I was alone. I needed food. I wanted comfort. Soho's Rupert Street has traditionally offered a certain brand of 'comfort', although I wasn't in the market for that. Luckily, the same street now offers culinary contentment too, thanks to Russell Norman's third addition to the
The concept is simple, bar style seating, American comfort food, cool atmosphere. What's not to like?
Had to, had to, had to, had to revisit Spuntino. LOVE Spuntino. You will too. But get there early like I did because it is VERY small and there are only 20 covers or so, mostly bar seating. So if you go and there’s a queue and you have to wait forever, you will hate Spuntino. But if you get there early and can get a seat, you will love it. I promise.
The wildly popular Polpo, Russell Norman's first venture, has 60 covers. Polpetto, opened last year and also impossibly busy from day one, has 28. And now there's Spuntino, nestled amongst the peep shows and sex shops in the seediest part of seedy Soho, with seats for just 26. Skip forward a few years and I imagine I'll be posting about "Spunketto", an uber-trendy Italian snack bar in the basement of a Frith Street brothel that seats one person per day. They'll still be queuing down the street. There's a reason why they're all so popular, of course. If you liked the candle-lit, gently illicit atmosphere of Polpo and Polpetto, you'll find even more to enjoy about Spuntino, which is blessed with an even more impressive space - all glazed bricks and mosaics, original and uncovered purely by chance during the build apparently. The bar, stainless steel surrounded by custom built bar stools and highlighted gently by caged bulbs hanging from the high copper-tiled ceiling, is a gloriously louc
Spuntino serve excellent food in a very casual atmosphere. ..They have no phone and hence dont take bookings. Its first come first served here.. it quite a small space that gets packed and cramped quickly, try to get a seat at the bar. ..
The menu has changed since the last time I visited. ..so some of the dishes I mention may not be there on the menu anymore. .
Service is quick and efficient. . Definitely try the burgers, cocktails and the peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dessert. ..
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Spuntino is a place for those in the know; it's fair to say that a quick internet search won't get you very far. Its website is shrouded in mystery, with the solo line "27 stools and a popcorn machine" your only guidance as to what might be on offer at this restaurant, the third venture from the team behind Polpo and Polpetto. They don't have a telephone, let alone take reservations. But this is no problem for F and me, as we rock up shortly after midday and have our pick of the seats. Much like Barrafina in its set up, stools gather around a C-shaped zinc bar, but with the kitchen to one side rather than on view for all to see.
The aforementioned popcorn makes an early appearance. As is the case in so many places these days, the paper menu doubles up as a place mat and if your stomach wasn't already grumbling, a quick scan down the list will take care of that. A huge range of delights on offer, from innovative salads to sliders to deluxe finger food. There were two dishes which caught my eye straight away: the truffle egg toast and the mac and cheese.
Despite its bare walls and lack of amenities, this joint somehow has a more home-cooked comfort food feel about it. The fully-inked waiter takes your order and off you go on a roller coaster ride of Brooklyn's finest flavours.
The truffle egg toast may not win the eye candy award but boy does it make up for it in flavour. An indulgent, thick slab of white bread, smothered in mettled cheese and drizzled in truffle oil all set around a running egg yolk in the centre. Your arteries will clog up just looking at it but who cares - let's face it, you're already licking the plate.
The buttermilk fried chicken is exquisite. Utterly tender and moist on the inside, with a crispy breadcrumb coating on the outside. It's been a long time since I tasted fried meat this good.
The slider - which I swiftly demolished in three hungry bites - arrives perched on a chipped enamel plate, a vessel which fits entirely which the shabby chic vibe the place has. Naked bulbs hang in rusty cages, cracks run up the walls but don't be fooled: it's a calculated level of grunge which works to create an effortlessly cool identity. Even the exterior of this restaurant is practically non-existent. Blink and you miss it, you need to know where it is.
The salad made for a perfect lighter option, but with strong flavours - a pile of chicory, gorgonzola and fennel.
It's not over until the fat lady sings and that's quite fitting really, since the mac and cheese is undeniably a diva of a dish. It arrives bubbling over the sides of the cast iron mini saucepan, with an energy nothing short of volcanic. Crispy on top and decadently creamy in the middle, this concoction is so heart warming you'd feel less cosy in slipper socks curled up in front of a roaring fire.
An unassumingly charming place to eat, Spuntino relies on word-of-mouth (it doesn't even have its name on the exterior for Christ's sake) and you need only look at the queues outside at 7pm on a weekday to establish the quality of the place. Great food, shabby chic décor and friendly staff; the perfect place for an original first date or a one-on-one catch up with an old friend.
Reservations: No chance, they need a phone line first
Wallet damage: 5 dishes to share, no drinks = less than £20 each
Vibe: American diner, John Steinbeck style
The website says it all really. This is a super trendy restaurant consisting of a bar and 27 stools all along it (to be precise!). It is very dark though, which is perfect for a date, not so good for dinner with your short-sighted grandma.
The American fad of "sliders" is slowly but surely making its way across the Atlantic and here it arrives with a little Italian influence too.
I've primarily been here after 10pm (and a few drinks) for some delicious comfort food to stave off those boozy munchies. The Swiss cheese burger is genuinely the best burger I’ve ever eaten, the buttermilk fried chicken is excellent as is the mac and cheese. The truffled egg toast was too pungent for me and the mint and courgette pizzetta was a bit of a let down with the mint flavour knocking the socks off everything else.
You eat at the bar so there isn't service in the traditional sense, but the food comes out in a very timely fashion. I always leave satisfied.
Spuntino is quite unique and original-starting from the fact that there's no indication of the restaurant unless you know where it is: no sign, just looks like a dark studio, but once you're inside, it has such a cosy, fun and friendly feel. The barmen are so friendly, they'll engage in conversation with you and recommend their favourites on the menu! The bulk of the seating is around the bar, in tall chairs, which is really nice and intimate but maybe less convenient if you're a larger group. The food offered is also really nice and not common: The mac and cheese is so tasty and comforting, as well as the truffle egg toast. Also, great to share are the fried olives which are really original tasting. All the menu options are quite well-thought out and inspiring, as in you're not likely to find an equivalent elsewhere. For example, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwhich for desert, for a peanut-butter-lover like me, was really perfect to finish off a great dinner.
We Love Food, It's All We Eat
+4.5
We loved this place from the minute we walked in the door. As co-founder Russell said in a recent interview, ‘Once you’re in, you get a metaphorical hug’. We couldn’t put it better ourselves. Hidden in the middle of Soho’s red light district, you wouldn’t know Spuntino was there, it’s effortlessly cool, a door with no sign, the mystery of it adds to the ‘hug effect’ when you walk in. We were welcomed by wafts of gorgeous food being eaten all around us and the sounds of country ‘n’ western and raw rhythm’n’blues.
Our first visit was just for dessert after my birthday lunch at the Opera Tavern on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Ade had what I took him there for – the Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich and I had the Coconut Mess. Washed down with a Vodka And Lime and a Dandelion & Burdock for Ade. The enamel crockery somewhat reminded me of camping trips at school or the dishes hidden away at the back of your old nan’s kitchen cupboard. Cosy.
We were unaware of the subtle cocktail section on the menu on this visit otherwise we would have had one, we only realised they existed on the second visit when we were watching the barman mix up some intriguing drinks and asked what they were.
We loved being perched at the bar, munching on the fresh complimentary Chilli Popcorn, just watching the oh-so rock n roll barmen and the customers. It was a year to the day that we got engaged in New York, so Spuntino was the perfect place to be. One guy next to us amazed us with how much food he ate in one sitting, it gave us a great chance to see what we fancied also. On our second visit a couple of weeks ago we made sure we came hungry…
It was a Friday night and we had to queue for forty minutes which was fine as it meant more time to see what everyone else’s food looked like and to decide what to have ourselves. We had the Egg And Soldiers which has been described as a scotch egg without the sausage, kinda right. Alongside it we had Eggplant Chips With Fennel Yoghurt, these were gorgeous and we had to share the last one, we should’ve just ordered some more. The Pulled Pork And Picked Apple Slider was amazing (again, should have ordered more), but Shoestring Fries were slightly lukewarm but lovely nevertheless.
Ade adored the Truffled Egg Toast (a thick slice of white bread with an egg yolk in the hollowed centre covered with melted cheese and truffle oil) and ate it all to himself as not liking cheese meant I missed out. Spuntino is not really the place to be if you can’t eat such cheese/dairy (or are counting the calories).
I had a Dark & Stormy cocktail with rum and ginger beer (the name reminded me of our wedding day…) and Ade a Rosy Lemonade which was a perfect blend between sweet and sour, our drinks were chosen by the barman as we saw they had just spent forever mixing some very intricate drinks. One in a teacup looked particularly interesting, we would’ve felt bad if we ordered the same. I also had an Orange Blossom which was pretty much all gin with a splash of fresh orange juice.
Ade had to have his beloved Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich for dessert again whilst I was too full so cheekily asked for some Popcorn instead. We would loved to have hung around all night but the ever-growing queue behind us meant we couldn’t. There are so many friends we want to bring to Spuntino an show if off to them. We are visiting Russell’s restaurants almost in reverse, we have yet to visit Polpo, Polpetto and the most recent da Polpo yet. How we are going to decide on which one I don’t know.
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You know you’re going to have a memorable night when your dining partner turns up half-cut, tries to blag a round of drinks on a random’s tab, then proceeds to accuse an entire cocktail-making-demo audience of stealing her phone. Southerners.
This was before we even got to Spuntino,which was gloriously empty for 9pm on a Monday night. Clearly nobody was stupid enough to willingly take on the first night of the tube strike. Well more fool them (or me, as the 2 hour trip home ensued.) We befriended Ben the barman over booze chat, a supremely patient guy who made a marvellous old fashioned and what L described as possibly the best cocktail she’d ever had in the Clove Club.
There’s a simple unforced atmosphere in this place; everyone is perched on stools at the bar to eat, the menu doubles as your table mat, and the food comes when it comes. It could easily descend into boiler-plate American diner territory given the cuisine, but Spuntino’s selection of sharing dishes is well thought out and mostly very good.
Our two sliders touched down first. The pulled pork & pickled apple narrowly top trumped the Southern American-style ‘Prawn Po’ Boy’ but they both tasted great. Chunky pieces of buttermilk fried chicken were supremely moist with a distinctly different batter seasoning; I let out a circa. 2001 Ali G finger snap after correctly guessing that five-spice was in there (along with about 30 other ingredients.)
Despite apparently being a fully autonomous human being, I wasn’t allowed any chips. Instead we treated ourselves to – wait for it – a pear, celery, chicory, pecan and Gorgonzola salad. Humph. I hate to admit it but it was a pretty tasty dish, if not a bit stingy on the cheese.
Being a massive pork belly fan I was pretty underwhelmed by the offering here. The meat was too fatty and under seasoned, and the tardivo too bitter for my liking. Little piles of pickled mustard seeds were pleasant on the eye but didn’t transform the dish, ditto the apple sauce slick underneath.
Just as well the mac and cheese was mint then. Served in a mini ceramic pan it was still bubbling round the outside when it was placed in front of us. Total gooey porn. The crust on top was so thick it was like a crumble. I palmed L off with the salad and devoured the lot.
Four cocktails in and a few things happened. I revealed my man crush for Russell Norman to most of the bar staff. L started giving it chat about being a wine connoisseur cos she’d done a Vinopolis course about 8 years ago. Then the deep & meaningfuls came out – a testament to how strong the drinks are.
Spuntino isn’t quite as great as I’d hoped it would be, but it’s almost there. Next time I’d ditch the salad and ramp up the slider action. If you’re planning on a visit don’t miss out on the mac and cheese whatever you do. Oh and apologise to the staff on behalf of both of us, many thanks.
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Spuntino is a down and dirty American diner, transported it seems from the mean streets of New York City into the grittier end of Soho, right next to a bar of questionable repute. The interior is that kind of derelict space that costs an absolute bucketload but had it been authentic grit, would have you reaching for that hand sanitiser faster than you can say Inner city.
In keeping with all that trendy, it’s No Reservations, not even a phone number, oh no, that would interfere with the vibe of it all and while usually that sort of thing drives me bananas, this isn’t a place to come with a group, it’s designed for solo diners, 2 friends, maybe 3 at a stretch and so reservations are something you can do without. While we wait, we stand along one side and get busily stuck into a bottle of Prosecco, with Tumblers to drink out of. Come on, this is Soho.
To be fair, it’s only around 20 minutes or so before we’re tucked in at one end of the bar, the area towards the door has a lot more light so it’s nice to be on that side of the room. The menu is made up of a lot of small things perfect for sharing, so that’s exactly what we do.
I want to order one of everything but luckily I’m somewhat restrained – so things kick off with eggplant fritters, buttermilk chicken and a slider to share.
Despite the oiliness of the yellow foods we’ve ordered, there is some lightness there. The fennel yoghurt doesn’t add a lot to the eggplant fritters, which could have been a little more crunchy, but the batter is very moreish with the soft eggplant instead. The buttermilk chicken is not as oily as you might think and is crunchy, but I think it could have used a teensy bit more spice to it. The slider though, the slider steals the show. Soft brioche bun with a meaty flavourful patty. Mmmm…
For the ‘mains’ as it were, we opt for a few of the larger plates. Zucchini, chilli and mint pizzetta and their famous Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese is a heart attack waiting to happen and can I suggest to keep away from any other plates if you’re going down this road!
Dessert was a bad idea. Not because it wasn’t utterly delicious, a burnt sugar caramelised cake like top, a rich chocolate ice cream sandwiched in the middle. But after that Mac & Cheese sloshing around inside, the few mouthfuls of an equally sinful dessert was just too much to bear.
Next time I’m in the neighbourhood, I’m going to order a lot more sensibly, save the Mac & Cheese for a starving crowd and opt for the sliders – maybe even give their plates of green things a go.
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Spuntino is one of those great little places that you only know about if you’ve heard about it. There’s no sign or markings on the building except a subtle little menu in the the only part of the window where the glass hasn’t been frosted.
Last week I had a friend from California in town wanting to catch up over lunch. This created the dilemma of having to choose one meal to represent the city’s incredibly diverse food scene. Rather than go for somewhere pulling out all the stops in a formal setting, I decided what better way than to dine in a quirky atmosphere with good, interesting food.
Spuntino, Venetian bácaro restaurant Polpo’s sister, is tucked away in the streets of Soho and does just that. There are no tables, only stools at the bar which are served by the friendly bartender. It’s all very Rock & Roll with exposed brick and industrial fittings, giving a similar feel to Russell Norman’s other places.
Whilst looking over the menu, we were served a mug of popcorn with chili salt to sprinkle over the top. A very different welcome to Spuntino which serves as a great introduction to the menu and venue itself.
It’s recommended to order the cicchetti, or Italian-style tapas, to share. We chose a selection and got chatting about her recent adventures around Europe.
Our dishes eventually arrived and we dug in. All were inventive, delicious and had surprisingly simple flavour.
We polished off our plates before we said our goodbyes and I had to run back to work.
I highly recommend checking this place out for a quick bite & catch up with a friend. It would also be a great little low key date night before heading out on the town.
Here’s the address, as it’s tricky to find: 61 Rupert Street, Soho, London W1D 7PW
Oh! and promise me you’ll try the truffled egg on toast? It’s seriously worth it.
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Spuntino's is part of the burgeoning empire of 'The Restaurant Man', Richard Norman, serving Manhattan style small plates in an intimate, raw and shabby chic diner. The interior is all exposed brick and original tiles and is predominantly made up of high stools gathered around the well stocked counter bar, where the lively staff mix up sublime cocktails for our entertainment and consumption. The vibe is totally laid back.
They don't take bookings for evenings so you may have to queue to get in, but at the very least this may help you find the place. During quieter times you may walk past it several times before you actual find it as the exterior is nondescript but it's certainly worth persevering and is the sort of place that serves the type of food you'll want to come back for.
The 'order of service' is all present and correct - a friendly greeting on entry, an instant offer of water (with tap proffered without making you feel like a cheapskate), a little cup of popcorn to nibble on whilst perusing the menu etc. that carries on all the way until you leave. It may feel slightly scripted but it undoubtably works.
And so to the food. The aim of the game is to order several dishes and share them with your companion. They come out when they are cooked and there is no real starter/main course structure to proceedings and none of the dishes alone would be enough to satisfy a hearty appetite. Admittedly I wanted to try everything but eventually we managed to pair down our choice to half a dozen or so dishes. The buttermilk chicken is crispy, remarkably moorish and everything KFC wishes it could be and certainly hasn't been sat under a heating lamp for hours on end but has clearly just emerged from a pan of fresh oil.
I gave the clam, linguine, pancetta and wild garlic a miss (well I tried a clam a lump of pancetta, both were excellent) which my companion thankfully, but only just, refrained from licking their plate clean after polishing off the plate. I saved myself for double burger time!
Apparently the menu changes frequently so today the 2 burgers on the menu were a Swiss cheese, jalapeño and chipotle sauce burger and a blue cheese, pastrami and pickled radicchio burger. Both were medium rare, cooked perfectly and served in brioche buns but they offered very different taste experiences. I didn't think the pickled radicchio particularly worked and added an unnecessary sogginess to what was otherwise a luxuriously creamy yet subtly peppery flavour. Pastrami will never supplant bacon as the go to burger accompaniment for me but paired with the blue cheese it's great. The Swiss burger was an instant hit however and demonstrated how economy of ingredients doesn't mean less taste. This burger really packs a punch, was incredibly juicy and succulent and was a clear winner. I reckon this burger deserves a permanent place on the menu.
Spuntino is famous for its peanut butter and jelly sandwich and having tasted it I can fully attest to its yumminess! Apparently it's all some visitors order. I love peanut butter, ice cream, brittle and raspberries and this represents the absolute zenith when combining these together - totally amazing and even worth queuing for.
If you're in Soho this is a must visit spot and worth seeking out if you're not.
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The rating one gives a restaurant has, certainly, a lot to do with one's personality. Spuntino is the exact kind of environment I look for especially on a Thursday or Friday after work: it is an extremely lively place, from staff to decoration and queuing - you are vey likely to have to queue if you arrive after 6:30pm, but you will be allowed to order drinks while you don't get chairs. Staff is great!!! Music is not loud that you have to shout neither quiet that you cannot listen to it! There is no way you will not interact with people in Spuntino - even if you are with a friend or girl/boyfriend (unless you really don't want to).
In Spuntino all you can have is finger food - really good ones! The best option is to order an average of 4-6 dishes for every two people and share. Don't assume that because it's finger food you will not be able to get healthy food - btw, salads in Spuntino are great. As snacks, the stuffed fried olives (non-vegetarian) are delicious! One of the most famous dishes of Spuntino is the truffled egg toast, which is the ever best combination of egg, cheese and truffle-infused bread: literally something you would never think could provide you a gastronomic experience! [It, definitely, will!] I've also tried the asparagus, attaching and scallion pizzeta, which, again, was yummy. There also are options of burguers - which I didn't try, but looked nice! Spuntino is the kind of restaurant that won't give clients tons of options, but will ensure the quality of the dishes they do offer!
Must try: Truffled egg toast!
See you there!
Eggplant fries with fennel yoghurt, lentil & anchovy crostini, pulled pork & pulled apple sliders, ice cream peanut butter and jelly sandwich, be prepared to queue but you can have their great cocktails while you wait, try and nab the only table at the back - otherwise its bar seating. Sexy atmosphere 10/10. NO BOOKINGS
Don’t remember how many times I have visited here.
Cozy tapas style American and Italian Bar!!! Some dishes are really great! Highly recommend Bismarck Pancake and Mozzarella pizza!! Fried chicken is crispy and juicy. And good amount with reasonable price. If you don’t drink alcohol, virgin mojito can satisfy you. Btw, personal opinion those cheese dishes is a bit greasy so better to order only one for sharing
I love Spuntino for a casual dinner. Seating is limited as there’s only bar seating, which is different and great as it creates an unique vibe in the restaurant. Not entirely sure what kind of cuisine it is but it’s small plates, and I am guessing there’s an American and Italian twist to it. My all time fave menu item are the spinach and ricotta sliders. My boyfriend prefers these vegetarian sliders over a meaty burger which means a lot! The food is a bit heavy but tasty. And the staff is really attentive.
My friend and I did had lunch with bottomless prosecco (+£18 extra) and we planned to make our way through the whole sharing menu we got as far as the fried chicken pancake, watermelon and buffalo crostini (see pics) and mac and cheese, absolutely delicious and the service was amazing, such a nice chilled afternoon of food, drinks and laughter. Definitely going to go back again.
Quirky, vibrant atmosphere embodied by the fun people behind the bar. Humble, but excellent food, with very strange and interesting combinations that all seem to work.
Pop in for a quick bite and even a cocktail or two. The vibes in Spuntino only serve to amplify the already ecelctic mix of moods one encounters while gallivanting through Soho.
Come here for the grungy atmosphere, friendly service and above all the innovative bites. Don't miss the truffle egg toast. Or their version of Yorkshire pudding. Delicious! And very reasonably priced too.
Always enjoy coming here. Great staff, simple yet delicious menu, brilliant cocktails.
Owned by the Polpo group this New York style diner doesn't disappoint. Lot's of authentic American sharing plates with a decent selection of Bourbon's and good music. There are usually a few American's in there which is always a good sign. The restaurant only seats 27 and it is no reservations.
We went on the recommedations from one of the bartenders at Polpetto and it was spot on. Went on a lovely lazy Saturday late lunch. Had a few small plates. We'll most definitely be here again the next time we are in London
Cocktails and sliders, a winning combination...! Looks a little unwelcoming from the outside, but a great treat lies within. Super friendly service, knock out cocktails and great bar food, like a little slice of New York in London.
I love this small and lovely restaurant offering such an amazing food lovely atmosphere and very friendly staff.
Best Bloody Mary in town, they use horse radish vodka. Service is great here and the Dutch baby pancake is great. Definitely our go to spot in soho
Had an amazing experience here, the delicious burgers and fries were cooked perfectly and packed full of flavour, the decor is cute but rustic and has a great bar where you sit and enjoy your food and drink, it has a diner feel but upper class quality, little bit pricey but if you want good quality burgers go here just don’t expect to have a good baby after.
Tasty food nice cocktails and Brooklyn toast dessert absolutely gorgeous!
Love this place in London, cosy casual ambiance. I can recommend the shrimp slider and mac & cheese.
One of my favourite restaurants, the cocktails and food are brilliant. The sliders are tasty and the pizzette was amazing.
Spunito was good fun .nice cool atmosphere with jokey amusing staff .had 4 cocktails and some tasty starters . A great place to start an evening .
Food: Excellent. The main attraction are the sliders (mini burgers). The Oxtail slider was fantastic. Not to be shun, the side of buttermilk fried chicken was better than (dare I say it) any KFC chicken (that really is high praise) and the salt beef fritters were delicious. Worth a mention are the excellent cocktails; it takes a really good bartender to make absinthe taste good in a cocktail.
Ambience: This place is pretty small. Most diners will be placed at the large bar; however the staff are all very friendly and will make you feel right at home. This place really does nail the "dive bar" feel but without being tacky or grungy.
Price: Reasonably price for excellent gourmet, but the portions are small for those looking for a stomach filler.
Service: Excellent.
Worth the visit: Definitely. But be prepared for a wait during busy periods.
Cool NY bar style serving great small plates and drinks. From sliders and fried chicken to more creative and fancy dishes. There take of peanut butter icecream sandwich dessert is amazing.
No reservations, find a seat at the bar and enjoy. You may need to wait but worth the wait.
I wouldn't go in a large group, it's an intimate setting for couples and friends.
Amazing food, great design, friendly staff.
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