Santi

Authentic Italian Elegance Meets East London

Let's raise a cocktail glass to the unexpected haven that is Santi Restaurant, perched with casual flair in the middle of Stratford’s urban sprawl like a prized European trinket. First things first, they bring you authentic pizza and pasta straight from the Neapolitan playbook, wielding their half-baked crust that’s neither chewy nor insipid – basically, dough perfection. The salami and egg-topped pizza here is especially thrilling; the runny yolk oozes over the salty casings into a transcendental culinary experience which arrests both taste buds and intellect alike. You’re greeted and embraced like family in that quintessential Italian manner by staff who could not have watched too many Vespa films.

Meanwhile, the pasta envelopes all the to-and-fro tension of a summer Italian siesta in your mouth, each bite coaxing you gently closer, as though persuading you serenely: "stay". Try the spaghetti frutti di mare; it truly holds its nerve with a seafood broth rich enough to make you contemplate prosecco or auction off your last pegged pound sterling. From fried calamari to heart-shaped anniversary pizzas – Scusi, yes – each plate subtly whispers authenticity without broadcasting too much and overselling their modest decor. Now, marginals do exist in the shape of minor quibbles like occasional delays, misunderstood orders or awkward spatial politics with tables, but in the grand narrative woven by Santi’s welcoming arms, delicious food, and rhythmic service, these hiccups fade into the charming embrace of an intensely satisfying meal. In summary, don't walk, sprint to Santi for what can only be gloriously charged evenings filled deceitfully with dolce vita romance neatly tied with affordable tags. It's homage, after all, to Italy itself—on East London’s steel ecliptic strip. — Penelope Savory