Once you've stumbled across it, you can hardly believe this place exists. A true Italian café,…read morecomplete with a sleekish sheen, smack on rough-around-the-edges Roman Road; it's almost mind-boggling. Yet, spectacularly, there it is, and it's the real deal. Expect friendly, familiar and helpful counter-service. Expect espresso, cappuccino, even flavoured lattes that are strong, authentic, and worth-sipping. And perhaps most marvelously, expect the best panini in the whole of London. That's a pretty lofty list of expectations to jot down, I realize, but oh, I am so not kidding on that last point. I dream of these panini: substantial, delectably filled, toasted to crispy perfection, and then wrapped up in white parchment like a wonderful present you can't wait to open. Make sure they make you one on the focaccia so that you can savor the depth of flavour and airy texture that the olive oil-laced bread imparts. I almost always go for the roasted vegetables and sun dried tomatoes combination - then ask them to add fresh mozzarella. Divine. I mean, where else in London can such edible excellence be had for less than four pounds?? Caveats: As I said, the place is authentically Italian, which tends to mean the service is slow (but worth it!). Also, I would avoid ordering ice blended coffees here; they usually come out extremely weak and watery - again, authentically Italian, Starbucks this is not. And don't forget (as I have) they're closed on Sunday... most, most unfortunately.

Chicchi is a fabulous Italian café at the middle intersection of Roman Road. Although a café it has…read morea cool, sophisticated feel to it and the menu selection is excellent. For sandwiches and toasties there is a great selection of breads and fillings. They also do a good range of hot meals like, lasagne and carbonara. For those feeling a little naughty the cakes are lovely with a few traditional Italian options to try. The price is very reasonable and they have a few computer terminals in the back for internet access. Chicchi is a great café and totally unexpected for the area.

One day, I arrived at work to discover that I'd forgotten my sandwich at home. "EGADS!" I cried…read more It was a heart wrenching affair, full of strife and tears, but I had to persevere. Come noon, I found myself on the street walking towards Dulwich centre. It was at this point that I came across La Gastronomia. Henceforth, unbeknown to me, I was saved from the fatal grip of a Tesco lunch. I walked in the store. The walls were lined with beautiful preserves, zesty spreads and fine Italian goods. The display cases boasted fancy meats and cheese along with a tantalizing display of antipastos. They also boasted things like "My food is better than your food" and "I can kick a soccer ball better than anyone!" but the staff did a good job quieting them up. The guy at the counter was very lovely and from hi I ordered a grilled ciabatta filled with goat cheese, pesto and sun-dried tomato. It might have done well with a bit more pesto, but the overall effect was just plain... - no not plain, because it was anything but that - just undeniably satisfying.

Oh this is a dangerous place indeed. A sort of Aladdin's cave of Italian deliciousness. I always…read morepromise myself that I am only going in for olive oil, but deep down I know better - I will emerge with some gorgeous biscuits, a slice of fresh lasagne, some dried pasta in weird and wonderful colours/shapes and some 'to-die-for' tomato sauce. So going back to the olive oil... they sell it by the half litre and will fill up any bottle you have, as long as it clearly shows the capacity. They also sell beautiful bottles to put the olive oil in. I like to make my own chili and garlic & rosemary oils, so it is ideal for me to re-fill those bottles. I don't love the taste of oils, but this one is really mild and lets the salad / food you're cooking do the talking rather than taking over - which is exactly what I look for in my olive oil. I would highly recommend this gorgeous place and tell you to take your time, spend plenty of time (and money!) getting some real Italian treats.

A fabulous Italian deli stocked from floor to ceiling with goodies throughout the shop. It's so…read moretightly packed that you need to be slightly careful not to tip something over :-) I loved this place and visited at least twice during my short stay. Run by a bunch of Italian men this place has Italian ingredients galore, meats, cheeses, oils, vinegars, sauces and prepared foods. They also have a fresh bread counter with lots of Italian breads. You can say this place is more or less edible :-) The prepared foods like risotto and vegetables are lovely as are the choice of cheeses and meats. The quality is good and the prices are also quite ok. I would shop here regularly if I could :-) it's a slice of Italy in London.

This is THE Italian deli for sweet and savoury treats to snag for dinner or a picnic. Takeaway…read morecontainers are secure and adorable, perfect for posh nosh in the park or a homemade meal you didn't feel like sweating over for hours. The wine selection is impressive, as is the deli-style spread of cheeses and meats. It's not cheap, but you're in Parsons Green, what do you expect? Homemade gooey lasagna ready for a brief oven blast, the most succulent roasted chicken imaginable, and hearty soups. Don't even get me started on the panna cotta. It's like creme brulee's much hotter cousin. The tiramisu is to die for, too. For less dairy-inclined folk, there are usually sweet breads and muffins. An antipasto buffet priced by weight with sardines, artichoke hearts, brine-soaked olives, and caprese salad has been my dinner many a night. Insider tip: all the shop-keepers I've met are Portuguese. Throw out an "obrigado" and maybe they'll give you a break on the cheese.

This was my one and only official meal in London, and I totally adored it. The shop is tiny but the…read moreselection man and woman making the sandwiches were super pleasant, and the selection was great. My friend got ketchup which the woman readily accomodated for, albeit after some chidding (ketchup on a sandwich is an afront to British culture, apparently). We were able to snag one of the only tables outside and had a lovely time catching up over a great sandwich. Will certainly be back next time I'm in the neighborhood.

Like many who have worked on Goodge St, Dino was my lunch saviour. I have had Italian sandwiches…read morehere so often that if you knock me down and cut me open I'll bleed Dino. I'd be there everyday in the short queue looking up and down at the freshly made arancinis, pastas, chicken cutlets and other Italian classics but never deviating from the sandwich menu and never choosing anything other than "No.1 on ciabatta, not toasted" Recipe: 1. Cut a slab of fresh ciabatta about the size of a Sony PlayStation 2. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil 3. Layer with slices of wet mozzarella 4. Layer with fresh cut prosciutto 5. Layer with handfuls of fresh basil leaves 6. Give it to Tom E Sounds amazing, right? It is. And Dino charges you less than many of the plastic-encased sandwiches at Pret or Eat for so much more. You won't need crisps or anything else to complete your lunch. One Dino's sandwich should suffice, but I bet you'll still be tempted to get some of the other Italian goodies in his shop. It's hard not to.

A great little place for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Very friendly staff, a nice crowd and the food…read moreis great. My favourites are the feta and pea tortilla plus the chicken skewers are always really tender, one day I will ask them how they cook it. It's a nice place for a drink in the evenings, although arrive a little early to get a seat. You have the option to sit outside, although the road can be busy, I do not hold that against the place though! They also sell a great selection of wine and there is a tiny 'shop' at the back, selling authentic Italian produce.

Verde has recently been renovated, with the bar/counter repositioned at the back of the restaurant,…read moreand a complete refurb of the decor and furniture. This investment has proven worthwhile for Verde, which now offers a fresh atmosphere that is still welcoming but suggests a higher standard of quality than the previous set-up. My mum and I enjoyed breakfast at Verde last week, the day after we both ran the London marathon! I chose the full veggie breakfast (had a lot of burned calories to make up for!), which was tasty and good value, although another sausage would have been welcome. My mum had the full English, which she enjoyed although the meat is not the best quality. If you're looking for a gourmet meal then Verde isn't for you. If you're looking for tasty food at reasonable prices, rock on!

I popped in here for lunch one day, based on the yelp review of course…read more While the last review was not shining, I found that I was pleasantly surprised by the place. I had the roast veg pannini.and it was very tasty and really filling, exactly what you want from a lunch out! The staff were lovely and very attentive. The only thing I didn't like was the fact my tea saucer was dirty, but then again, at least it was just a saucer and not a plate for food or anything, so I can't complain too much. Overall the lunch was very enjoyable.

There's nothing better than italian cuisine...so simple but so tasty at the same time. Now, it's…read moreeasy to prepare great dishes when you're in the middle of Tuscany...everything is fresh and locally sourced but how hard is it to find that around here, far away from the sun and mild T°...well, London can count on its italian delis, and The Gazzano's is one of the very best. The inside is...small and to the point! The focus is on the products: italian cheese, antipasti, cured meat...I counted 6 different types of homemade sausages! 6 :) Paid £7,5 for 9 pieces...and they tasted...well, like in Tuscany :) Chef's talent I guess...haha For your next dinner party, check this one out!

Really tasty meat and cheese. Pretty good wine selection…read more My only issue was the place was very small, and the man working the register got very flustered and seemed to not really understand me very well. Still a great little place

The best thing about this place was the lovely indoor/outdoor-ness to this place. You walk down a…read morecorridor to the dining room but then right before you enter there's no ceiling. We sat right next the door, which was nice because we're still masking to be COVID cautious, and it felt nice to be able to sit here safe and unmasked. We had the beef lasagna, canneloni, and mushroom pizza. I don't remember much about them but everything was good. We also liked the bread.

Absolutely the best Italian. Very authentic. The eggplant and ham sandwich was very good.read more