I’ve never been to Turin but last night I got a taste of the northern Italian city after discovering Savure.
The new canteen-style eatery, just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street, offers a simple menu where diners are invited to have a stab at creating their own DIY pasta dishes.
First they can choose a base pasta, before selecting a sauce. It’s a steal, with generously-portioned plates starting at just £8.
So far the restaurant has proved a hit at lunchtime, with hundreds of office workers eager to get their fill.
I picked a ‘filled pasta’ from the dinner menu, stuffed with Italian meats and Mediterranean spices. On the sauce front, I plumped for a ragu topping comprising of beef, tomato and red wine.
With my friend Chris in tow, we added on a charcuterie board and Parmesan salad. To wash it all down, a couple of glasses of red wine.
The open air kitchen meant we could see the chef rustling up our Italian feast from our seats outside on the pavement.
With temperatures pretty balmy in London and the streets all abuzz, it felt like we could have almost been in Italy that night.
The service at Savure was quick and we swiftly got stuck into the meze mix of Italian treats.
The cocktail of charcuterie and cheese was divine, with the creamy smoked burrata being a particular favourite.
Not being a massive pasta fan – I know I’m odd! – I actually kept plunging my fork in for more filled pasta.
The meaty sauce was delicious and full of flavour.
The Parmesan salad was well presented and we both ploughed away at the seemingly bottomless dish of greens.
Needless to say our plates were spotless. A basket of bread helped us to mop up any remaining blotches of red ragu sauce.
While we were pleasantly full, we had to complete the Italian journey with a traditional tiramisu.
Served in a kilner jar, this was the perfect pudding to share.
After our culinary trip to Turin, Chris and I left Savure for the shores of Shoreditch.
It’s definitely a spot worth checking out and if you’re ever in Turin, that’s where the original Savure is set.
Buon Appetito!
To book a table at Savure – located at 20 Paul St, London EC2A 4JH – call 020 7539 9322
