LDNReview
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Officina 00
Included In
Everybody has that one item of go-to clothing. It’s comfortable. It makes you feel cool. It’s never spent six months at the bottom of that graveyard of dirty socks that you call a washing basket. Whether it’s a sentimental band tee or a pair of jeans with the perfect fit, it doesn’t matter - the point is this piece of clothing is your ride or die. It’s your knight in shining linen. And Officina 00 is the restaurant equivalent.
This handmade pasta spot near Old Street roundabout feels like it was dropped from the sky, fully-formed and full of regulars, by some kind of higher intelligence, one that has a great deal of respect for linguine. Although it hasn’t been a Shoreditch fixture for the past century, or even the past decade, it’s already the kind of restaurant that’s as lived-in and loved as your favourite pair of vintage 501s. Everything from the evening tea lights to the cool wooden chairs that look like the ones you inscribed your crush’s name into with a protractor at school, make this restaurant feel like home. But it’s not just the fact that Officina 00 is as casual as it is cool that makes it a restaurant you’ll go to time and again, it’s the food.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
In case the person at the pasta station hand making your cavatelli like they’re crafting Venus Di Milo’s abs doesn’t give it away, they take their pasta seriously here. And while their tomato salad is pleasant, and the fried cacio e pepe ravioli snack will really appeal to the part of you that once considered deep-frying some sourdough, you’re really going to want to focus on those pastas. They serve a short, changing menu, and for every classic pappardelle with meatballs or squid ink linguine, you’ll find a bold parsley pesto covered pork genovese, or a comforting pumpkin gnocchi that somehow manages to remain subtle despite being packed full of gorgonzola. This place isn’t scared to get a little adventurous and that almost always pays off. It also means that with every visit, whether you’re settled in one of their surprisingly comfortable counter stools to listen to a podcast over a plate of £9.50 pici, or sharing a portion of cavatelli with a group, there’ll be something new on the menu to try.
All of this means that this restaurant is a keeper. But unlike your eight-year relationship that now centres around what’s on iPlayer, it’s still exciting. You probably wouldn’t have a business dinner here, but when it comes to pretty much any other conceivable meal time, it’s a good shout. And that’s the best thing about this place, just like that breton stripe tee that’s seen you through more dates than red wine, Officina 00 is always reliable.
Food Rundown
Fried Raviolo
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Raviolo Bergese
Cavatelli, Almond Pesto, Padron Peppers, Coppa
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Squid Ink And Cuttlefish Tagliolini
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Pumpkin Gnocchi, Brown Butter, Sage, Gorgonzola
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Pappardelle, Meatballs, Burrata
Occhi, Braised Pork Genovese, Parsley Pesto
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli