LDNReview
Included In
As anyone who’s ever learned a new language or tried to train themselves to text one handed knows, the older you get, the harder it becomes to master new skills. Old dogs can’t learn new tricks. So if you didn’t learn the butterfly stroke as a kid, the likelihood of you ever figuring out how to coordinate that manic arm swing and dolphin kick is fairly remote. That rule doesn’t always hold though. And Lina Stores, a sit-down restaurant spin-off from the iconic Soho deli of the same name, is proof of that.
This Greek Street pasta bar also has the same ice-cream parlour pastel frontage as the Brewer Street shop where they’ve been selling handmade pasta since 1944. That’s long enough for us to suspect they should be able to cook what they sell by now. And sure enough, everything here is done pretty well - simple but with that bit of flair that makes it feel as if they’ve been running a restaurant forever.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
The pastas here are bound to make you smile. They come in small portions, making this a perfect choice for a quick lunch, or a light post-theatre bite. If you’re not particularly hungry then one will do, but if you’re anything like us, one will certainly not do. The agnolotti with truffle and ricotta, and the pici with mushroom and sausage are both pretty solid and should definitely be on your order, but with prices starting at just £6, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for more on top of these. Some crunchy aubergine polpette, or ’nduja with ricotta from their antipasti selection will round off your meal nicely.
Lina Stores is not a place you’re going to spend hours and hours in. Nor is it going to blow your mind. That’s just not the point here. It’s casual and inexpensive, and the food is solid. Whether you’re at the upstairs counter, or in the slightly more spacious white-washed basement, you’re definitely going to be on the slightly cramped side of cosy. That’s okay though. You don’t have long to spend here anyway. Once you’ve got those pastas down, you’ve got to get back to the pool and finally master your butterfly stroke.
Food Rundown
Bella di Cerignola, Carciofini e Pomodori Secchi
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Polpette di Melanzane
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
’Nduja Con Ricotta
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Agnolotti Verdi Con Ricotta E Tartufo
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch