Fernando’s

I visited the Amalfi coast this June for an entirely too short a period and the Italian food I had there was some of the best I have ever had in my rather limited experience with Italian food. If you ever visit, do take a trip to Al Pesce d’Or, ingredients as fresh as you can imagine. They grow most of the vegetables right in the back yard. This third generation family run restaurant offers splendid views across the mountains lining the Mediterranean. The fish tastes entirely wholesome is what I can only imagine all home cooked Italian fish should taste like. And the local Limoncello is 30 something percent, served chilled to perfection and like all the best Italian places, is offered generously. Oh, if you are nice, they will pick you up in an open golf cart from almost anywhere in Amalfi or Positano.
Fernando’s, unfortunately is no where as spectacular. But, that’s ok. Few places can match what the Amalfi coast has to offer, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Most importantly, Fernando’s does what Fernando’s does really really well. What is on offer is several different pastas. The range is pretty diverse — chicken and chorizo, lasagna, spicy meatball, 4 cheese, bacon + ham + mushroom… you get the picture. I can vouch for most of them as being absolutely delicious. A personal favourite is the spicy meatball pasta, but it is by no means an easy decision.
If this is lunch time and you are really really hungry, stop everything right now. Ready? good. You need to head to Fernando’s and grab a spaghetti in garlic sauce topped with a chicken escalope. You may want to try this on a slow day though because this will take some serious eating. But, you will find happiness at the bottom of that box, so keep at it. The melted cheese on top of the escalope goes down the spaghetti and mixes with the garlic and pepper from the pasta to form flavours your taste buds can well and truly appreciate.
To balance it all off, they even do some excellent salads with some very well executed (and very non Italian) chicken marinated in Peri Peri sauce or with balsamic. You will need to come back here to try the whole range. If you do come back once, you will probably come back several times. And you will probably be a better person for it because that will be one fewer time you grabbed that awful Pret sandwich because you could not think of an alternative. When you do realise this, do try the Chilli chicken ciabatta. Heavy on the carbs, but very gentle on the soul. (but not so much for those who can’t handle the heat though)
Fernando’s is not cheap. At £7.50 a pop for the pasta, this is probably on the higher end of the spectrum for City takeaways. It is probably just about perfectly priced. The staff is very friendly. Looking at the size and dimensions of our order last time, they gave us some free fruit, which was very nice of them. There are few places around the City that do such flavoursome Italian takeaway. If the tiny portions of Carluccios leave you deeply unsatisfied, get here early, grab a pasta and if you are lucky you could be enjoying the sun in Devonshire square. Happy hogging!

I now need to make my way to this place and try their infamous paella. Will be sure to eat it while piping hot.

Ridiculously. Massive. Portions. For about £7.
I’ve gotten the lasagna here a few times when I was craving something hearty for lunch and I’ve regretted it every time… Normally by the I’m halfway through I’m already in a lot of pain and falling asleep at my desk. The time I was smart I just gave the other half away. Eating an entire portion isn’t something anyone should do (unless you’re a trained American who frequents the Cheesecake Factory).
It’s good stuff though. plus they have a TON of pasta options… vegetarian. chicken. aubergine! Hurrah for that. And they are super super super super nice!

There’s not a lot which is cheap round these parts, so don’t expect anything cheap and cheerful. To make up for it, the interior’s all ‘genuine’ Italian, like, they got chopped up wood lining the back wall (I think for the ‘look’, rather than for any genuine wood oven requirements) and bottles of Italian olive oil all over the show.
It is a really good deli though. I had an artichoke-​heart sandwich which was top! There’s a mean little selection, all Italian-​themed. And I suppose most of their clientele will be City-​folks, who don’t mind paying £5.50 for a panini and a drink.
Basically, fairly pricey, but really nice food.