Story Deli, Shoreditch
We bloody love gourmet pizza.
Review
Itchy got a bit lost on the way to Story Deli. Located in a side street
in Shoreditch, you could easily walk past this gem of a restaurant a
couple of times before you realised what it was.
We sat at one of the large communal tables, opting for the hard backed chairs rather than the stools (they didn’t look hugely inviting) opposite a man reading a book and drinking a coffee. The entirely organic menu gave Itchy quite a task - we honestly wanted to try one of each - but we settled on the simply titled “Chorizo, Pumpkin and Talleggio” and “Aubergine, Goat’s Cheese and Ham”.(NB: Despite being called a “deli”, they do only make pizzas, so don’t come expecting anything else.)
The open kitchen meant that we could smell the pizzas being made, which added to our hunger, but also that we could keep an eye on their progress. The rest of the décor gave the restaurant a gallery vibe, with mood-boards of magazine cuttings and black and white portraits adorning the walls, alongside crates of ingredients and frames stacked up in the corner.
We were a bit worried when we were offered “Red or white wine?” but believe us, you don’t need to know what grape variety it is when it tastes this good. We picked white and were pleasantly surprised by a very drinkable glassful, complete with sweet-as-honey aftertaste.
Our pizzas arrived on beautiful boards with a rocket salad garnish. (The Italian girls sitting to Itchy’s left looked rather envious at this point.)
Let’s get straight to the point: They. Were. Delicious. Perfect for those who dread the carb-y stodge of some pizzas, the base was so thin that in places it took on a sort of pancake texture, creating an amazingly crispy air bubble of a crust. This meant that the toppings took centre stage, and deservingly so. The combination of pumpkin, chorizo and talleggio (a lovely Italian cheese) proved incredibly moreish and the other pizza was a goat’s cheese lover’s dream come true. The portion size is more than enough for one and worth the £15 price tag, especially since all ingredients are organic.
Itchy looked at the dessert menu and just didn’t feel that we could face another mouthful. A range of sweets are on offer though, including chocolate brownie, cheesecake and icecream.
A quick visit to the toilet upstairs unearthed another even more beautiful dining space, with more frames, mirrors and hanging shells above long dining tables adorned with flickering tea light candles. Itchy was rather upset that we hadn't discovered it sooner, as we'd much rather have sat up there. (But we did enjoy the people watching possibilities of the big glass fronted ground floor.)
All in all it was a beautiful meal in gorgeous surroundings. Itchy would recommend Story Deli for a laid back special occasion – take a friend for a surprise birthday meal, or someone you want to impress for a first date - but be aware that they don’t take bookings, only take cash and their maximum group size is 6. Bravo, Story Deli, for making affordable organic delights!
We sat at one of the large communal tables, opting for the hard backed chairs rather than the stools (they didn’t look hugely inviting) opposite a man reading a book and drinking a coffee. The entirely organic menu gave Itchy quite a task - we honestly wanted to try one of each - but we settled on the simply titled “Chorizo, Pumpkin and Talleggio” and “Aubergine, Goat’s Cheese and Ham”.(NB: Despite being called a “deli”, they do only make pizzas, so don’t come expecting anything else.)
The open kitchen meant that we could smell the pizzas being made, which added to our hunger, but also that we could keep an eye on their progress. The rest of the décor gave the restaurant a gallery vibe, with mood-boards of magazine cuttings and black and white portraits adorning the walls, alongside crates of ingredients and frames stacked up in the corner.
We were a bit worried when we were offered “Red or white wine?” but believe us, you don’t need to know what grape variety it is when it tastes this good. We picked white and were pleasantly surprised by a very drinkable glassful, complete with sweet-as-honey aftertaste.
Our pizzas arrived on beautiful boards with a rocket salad garnish. (The Italian girls sitting to Itchy’s left looked rather envious at this point.)
Let’s get straight to the point: They. Were. Delicious. Perfect for those who dread the carb-y stodge of some pizzas, the base was so thin that in places it took on a sort of pancake texture, creating an amazingly crispy air bubble of a crust. This meant that the toppings took centre stage, and deservingly so. The combination of pumpkin, chorizo and talleggio (a lovely Italian cheese) proved incredibly moreish and the other pizza was a goat’s cheese lover’s dream come true. The portion size is more than enough for one and worth the £15 price tag, especially since all ingredients are organic.
Itchy looked at the dessert menu and just didn’t feel that we could face another mouthful. A range of sweets are on offer though, including chocolate brownie, cheesecake and icecream.
A quick visit to the toilet upstairs unearthed another even more beautiful dining space, with more frames, mirrors and hanging shells above long dining tables adorned with flickering tea light candles. Itchy was rather upset that we hadn't discovered it sooner, as we'd much rather have sat up there. (But we did enjoy the people watching possibilities of the big glass fronted ground floor.)
All in all it was a beautiful meal in gorgeous surroundings. Itchy would recommend Story Deli for a laid back special occasion – take a friend for a surprise birthday meal, or someone you want to impress for a first date - but be aware that they don’t take bookings, only take cash and their maximum group size is 6. Bravo, Story Deli, for making affordable organic delights!
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London |
alternative |
independent |
pizza |
review |
