L'Antipasto City is a cozy Italian restaurant located in Botolph Alley near Monument Station in London. Renowned for its authentic Italian cuisine, it specializes in antipasti, homemade pasta, and pizzas, offering dishes like burrata with prosciutto, linguine with Sicilian sausage, and tiramisu made with amaretti biscuits. The restaurant is praised for its warm atmosphere, attentive service, and fresh ingredients, making it a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Hidden in a small alley, it is considered a "best-kept secret" in the city, perfect for casual dining or business lunches.

I don't want to sound pretentious but I had literal chills from their desert.

The pizza was made with simple ingredients but was one of the most delicious that I've had in a long time.

The chefs are absolute geniuses

This place is excellent. I couldn't reccomend it more.

L'Antipasto City: A Delicious Dilemma

As passionate lovers of Italian culture and cuisine, with extensive travels throughout Italy, we were eager to try L'Antipasto City, conveniently located in a small alleyway, for a quick meal in the area. While we were fortunate to secure a table, our initial excitement quickly faded due to the palpable, hostile atmosphere emanating from both the staff and some of the other patrons.

We soon understood the reason for the waiters' stern and somewhat hostile demeanor. It seemed to be a reaction to the behavior of certain customers, likely due to the restaurant's proximity to the business center. Unfortunately, this negativity permeated the entire dining experience.

However, the food itself was truly exceptional. It was so good, in fact, that it almost made us forget the discomfort we were feeling. The flavors were authentic and delicious, showcasing the chef's clear talent and passion for Italian cooking. We were genuinely impressed.

Sadly, the positive experience with the food was overshadowed by the unsettling environment. We observed several wealthy, and clearly intoxicated, customers behaving inappropriately, flirting and seemingly taking advantage of the staff.
Disappointingly, the manager did little to address this behavior. Instead, almost encouraging it and making unnecessary, almost egotistical, comments when interacting with polite customers.

Our initial plan was to stay for about an hour, and despite our desire to personally compliment the chefs on the incredible food, we felt so uncomfortable and unwelcome that we decided to leave immediately.

While the food at L'Antipasto City was undeniably amazing, the unpleasant atmosphere and the way the staff were treated by some patrons, combined with the manager's apparent inability to address the situation, left a very sour taste. Despite the culinary excellence, we sadly wouldn't choose to dine there again.

This is the surprise of the year. The food here was immense!

I had the prawn linguine and it was sensational. Such a good balance with the garlic and the dill made it pop. My colleague had a gluten free pasta and said it probably one of the best he’s eaten in his life.

The pizza was also highly rated. The photos of this food will not do it justice.

There were five of us and we hadn’t booked and they were accommodating. Service was great and it was well priced.

Massive fan of this place tucked away in an alleyway.

Will 100% go back there. The food was delicious.

This is a hidden gem and may be hard to find as it’s located within an alley.

Risotto seafood was so flavourful and the portion was generous! Tiramisu was nice as well 💯

Overall this is a place that I would return to if I’m ever in London again.