Head down the road from Angel tube station and find Bella Italia Islington, the go-to Italian chain serving up authentic dishes for a reasonable price. Walk inside the quirky, colourful dining room and spot feature lampshades and coloured frames hanging from the ceiling or the “Italia” sign made out of Champagne bottles. Bella’s interior also gives a few nods to its Italian roots with imagery around the space, such as the old-style Fiat car mural and the tomato tins, olive oil and wine bottles stored in shelves on the wall.
On the menu, you can easily find food to meet your dietary requirements, whether you need a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy dish, or one that’s fewer than 300 or 600 calories. Not only does Bella Italia Islington have a wide selection of diet-friendly dishes, but there is also a kiddies menu for hungry bambinos. Menu items at Bella Italia are made with Italian ingredients, sourced from small-scale family-grown farms. Pop by for a visit from 9am every day and enjoy one of the £5 breakfasts.
Sip on an Italian wine to start or get into Bella Italia’s cocktail list, including the Watermelon Spritz of Aperol, Prosecco, watermelon puree and a handful of diced strawberries. Begin your meal with the crumbed mozzarella parcels with cherry tomatoes and a spicy tomato dip. Tuck into the traditional lasagne main or the risotto pescatore, filled with mussels, squid and prawns in a white wine and creamy lobster bisque. We loved the look of the daivola forte pizza, topped with nduja sausage, chicken, salami, red onion, peppers, green chilli and mascarpone. End your meal with a range of desserts, including the signature cookie dough al forno, filled with chocolate and topped with gelato, or the dolcetti board of mini desserts to share. On your way out, stop by the gelato cart at the bar for your choice of scoop.
At Bella Italia, you can take advantage of many specials including £5 pasta and pizza night on Tuesdays, 50% off for students from Monday to Wednesday, a free antipasti board with two cocktails every late afternoon, and 2-4-1 cocktails on Thursdays. The restaurant also offers a click and collect service as well as partnering with other order-in apps.