L'Anima Cafe (City of London)

• The first time I visited here was when I attended the Chowzter Awards where there were small canapes to sample
• The bread trolley was brought to us
• My favourite was probably the rose shaped pastry with nduja filling
• The focaccia was pretty good as well
• I'm not quite sure if you are allowed to request for more after
• I really enjoyed the calamari alla griglia the squid was soft and slightly chewy
• It went well with the pappa al pomodoro
• The pork belly was tender and juicy with a nice bit of crispy crackling
• My favourite part of the meal was probably the dessert
• The pannacotta was very smooth and creamy with a generous portion of blueberries
• I also really liked the cassata siciliana which was a ricotta and chocolate filled cake
• You may find the full list of dishes that I had with photos on the blog x
• Update 25/11/2015 I've been a regular here for quite a while but sadly it appears the old adage is true in that "
• 5 was very well priced but more shocking was the sudden jump to £
• I'd have a grumble at any price hike but this was a whopping 40%
• It is what it is and so I ordered the lasagna
• The portion was decidedly smaller and served chilled
• I just grabbed a takeaway mind but my pasta of the day was cooked right in front of me on the spot and only set me back a fiver
• Other options available were venison with rice and a meatball sandwich
• Excellent rustic southern Italian food with bold flavours
• The Norfolk pork belly with sanguinaccio was so delicious
• The pork itself was tender and moist
• The sea bream was less interesting compared to the pork belly but it was a very well executed dish
• Desserts of panna cotta and mascarpone cheesecakse was really yummy
• The popular opinion about L'Anima Cafe (City of London) is that it is the best Italian option in the city's restaurant scene
• The dishes are delectable and flavorsome
• The portion sizes are less for the price
• The only thing that is struck in my mind is
• A female customer arrived and ordered same cocktail and our server informed her they are too strong and inappropriate for her
• L'Anima Cafe (City of London) looked like a very high end place with expensive delights
• The food we ordered was quite affordable and delectable
• We were met with a pained facial expression when we said we hadn't reserved a table
• It was presented in an original way as separate neat slices of aubergine topped with sauce and cheese
• The cracker was a bit soggy and didn't add anything
• Main I ordered braised lamb but was quickly informed there was none left
• It came neatly resting in an open parcel of paper with tomatoes and olives sitting on top but if I say so myself I could have made better myself
• The broccoli was a new vegetable for me so had the novelty factor and was cooked with chilli so had an exciting kick to it
• I'd say this was more a place to come for that end of week wind down with work colleagues or post work rant with friends
• The service is efficient if a little brisk
• I thought the food was a little average
• With varying hunger levels ordered from various parts of the menu which is split into the standard antipasti
• The only really unpleasant moment was biting into a good selection of bones in my sea bass
• My suffering was swiftly dismissed by the waiter
• Busy most evenings with people having a drink after work
• I visited on a Thursday lunchtime for a bite to each with three others we ordered 2 x Lamb
• My colleagues said the lamb was lovely (albeit the portions were a little small)
• Duck and Waffle and Goodmans) but they are definitely on the treat yo&rsquo
• I personally think there is a lack of interesting places to venture to for lunch
• Anima Cafe is the sister to the award winning L&rsquo
• This is a more informal setting with all day dining and great for after work drinks
• Asparagus and anchovy salad with pecorino shavings and a simple tomato
• The salad was light and fresh with the moorish saltiness from the anchovy
• The tomatoes were seasoned perfectly on the bruschetta
• The al dente spaghetti with the soft salty clams and a slight kick from the chilli was wonderful
• Another pasta dish was also ordered
• The daily special of sole was decided upon
• It came served with slices of crisp potatoes and cherry tomatoes
• The flavour in the fish was incredible and so juicy too
• Last time we ordered the broccoli pizza and it was pretty bland
• It is very much full of suits mid week but I imagine there is a different vibe in the evening and at weekends as it pretty much on the boarder between the city and Shoreditch (it&rsquo
• In the mean time this is the place to go for great Italian food
• L'Anima Cafe is the less formal little sister of the award winning L'Anima restaurant serving Southern Italian food that lives up to the meaning of the restaurant's name
• L'Anima is the Italian word for soul and the food is authentic and rustic
• My starter was grilled calamari with pappa al pomodoro
• I loved the smoked chargrilled taste of the calamari that was cooked perfectly so it wasn't chewy or tough
• The accompanying soupy sauce was the perfect pairing as it was slightly spicy but didn't overpower the delicate taste of the calamari
• A grilled octopus dish with Tuscan beans and tomatoes
• Once again the mollusc was prepared to perfection
• Both dishes were a large portion size and actually would have been fine for a main course too
• The first thing that strikes you about L'amina Cafe is that it doesn't seem like a cafe at all
• It is set in a sprawling contemporary space with modern furnishings
• The seating is well spaced out with formal place settings and the length of the room feels like a catwalk as you proceed to your table
• On arrival you are greeted by smiling receptionists
• The dishes all sound tantalizing and it was a task to decide what we wanted
• Our advice to you is get your servers attention as soon as you make a decision or you will start to change your mind again
• Simple questions were answered with confidence
• Our dining journey began with Tuna Carpaccio with chilli
• Onto the main course we continued with a sea theme
• This was coated with breadcrumbs
• The prawns were plentiful and meaty
• I had the grilled salmon with Jerusalem artichokes
• The portions are large but with our eyes being bigger than our belly
• We had a side of caponata which is grilled aubergine
• In a way that is a good thing as only those in the know come along and we all like to have our little secret spots we go to
• They have an all day deli and around the corner is the fine dining formal restaurant
• They have well and truly made their mark on the ground floor of this office building and with Amazon HQ opening across the road
• Anima Cafe is that it doesn&rsquo
• Food tastes very good and ingredients are always fresh and well presented in the plate
• I visited L'Anima Cafe for dinner and it was like a trip to Italy
• I loved the cured meat and cheese board and the ribeye beef with vegetables was blissful
• If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in London this is the best place

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