Cheesy title huh? But its actually rather fitting. ‘Spirito di Milano’ is Princi’s slogan and I tell you what I almost felt like I’d stepped into Milan!
Princi! You can sit in the window and people watch 🙂
Located on the bustling Wardour Street in Soho, Princi is a buzzing Milanese bakery/pizzeria. As soon as you enter the smell of freshly baked pizza oozes from the oven. The counter is overflowing with an array of cakes, Italian breads and pastries.
So upon arrival you have two options.
Steer right into the more bakery, light eatery side. Here you can indulge in mezze teamed with decadent wines. Think olives, bruschetta & cured meats. Follow this with almondy Cannoncini or succulent Frangipanes.
Oh my goodness the pizza look drool-tastic
The desserts solober-tactular
Buzzing on a Monday evening
Steer left and enter the pizzeria restaurant. With pooosh waiting staff and smell wafting pizza oven.
As I was in the company of old friends we opted for the restaurant, and a table seat (little bit more social) over a people watching window one (would be really cool if there was only two of you). So we were led to our seat by a lovely Italian waiter (all the waiters spoke Italian, it was ace like being on your holz!) and presented with a menu hosting an array of what I call PROPER pizzas. None of this American spicy beef or BBQ chicken malarky, I’m talking olives, capers and meats that I’ve never heard of 🙂
The even had their own stonebaked pizza oven!
As my Italian is a little rusty (sorry did I say rusty? I mean my vocab consists of ciao!) the waiter politely explained a few things on the menu. Bresaola (beef) and Coppa (the back leg of pork) are my new words of the week 🙂
So my two mates opted for the veggie selection and I (wishing to use some of my new found words) opted for the Coppa, which teamed cured pork leg with mozzarella, tomato and rocket (@britalianjob got me on the rocket @backyardcinemas !). They had a couple of beers and I pushed the boat out and errr went for tap water…….I was saving myself for a post dinner cocktail, don’t judge! 🙂
So the pizza was freshly baked and didn’t take long at all! Before we knew it these bad boys were handed over to us!
Look at these little beauties!
This was my beasty!
They were proper good, like the ones from when you actually visit Italy. None of this stodgy Dominoes riff raff (yes we all know they taste good, but you feel a little bit dirty after you’ve polished off a large one to yourself…..). The pork added a well nice saltyness to it, the rocket all peppery and it was slathered in mozzerella. Drool-tacualr! Think the chums enjoyed theirs too.
They were pretty beasty too! Mine actually defeated me! Wasn’t impressed, thankfully the waiter offered me a doggy bag before I even asked 🙂
Tea tonight, doggy bag style 🙂
A little note that I thought was rather cool, they had incense burning in the loos! The smell wafted around and was well nice, and all the loos were clean and wooden and ahhh I want my bathroom like them. I did try and take a pic but there was a queue and I started to get some funny looks……..
Incense in the bathrooms, how posh is that!?
Verdict!?
Nosh: Top notch. Proper pizzas, a thin base in the middle with puffy edges, slathered in mozzarella, chili oil and great toppings. A good choice, not overwhelming but suited all tastes. Only downside were the edges were a little bready (which was fine as I was hungry!) 8/10
Dollar Dollar: For pizza in London a little on the high side. HOWEVER this is good pizza, like proper good, so you pay for what you get 🙂 The Coppa was £11.50 and the Mediterranea was £10, so not breaking the bank. 7/10
Vibe: Really buzzing especially for a Monday. I’d like to go back and try the window seats with the mezze and cakes! Also the attention to detail was really cool, the incense in the toilets etc. really made it nice. Apparently though it gets rammed and the tables were quite close so movement could get a bit hairy! 8/10
Team Cohesion: The waiting staff were really friendly and helpful. Attentive but not on your back. It added to the allure that they were all Italian, and greeted you with ‘ciao!’ the only prob was ordering sometimes got a little hard. But we definitely tipped 🙂 8/10
Notes: I totally want to go back to try the focaccia pizza and desserts!!!
After Hours?
Head round the corner for a cheeky cocktail at Carom Botanical Gin Garden, hosted in Floridita.
London Love
xoxoxo
Princi serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day of the week. They also provide a take-away service and party platters.
http://www.princi.com/menus
135 Wardour Street
London
W1F 0UT
Or if you’re feeling really keen visit one of their chomping stations in Milan, thats how authentic it is 🙂
X marks the spot
Closest tube: Oxford Circus (Victoria line, Bakerloo line, Central line)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Princi-London/149640798430280
http://pinterest.com/spiritodimilano/
Gollum Crack Corn 