The Big Mamma Group are popular all over London for their quirky Italian restaurants, known to feature everything from glowing staircases to ceilings filled with plants - and that's before we even get on to the six-inch high slices of lemon meringue pie. They've opened 23 of their uniquely gorgeous venues across Europe since the group was founded in 2013, five of which are right here in the capital.
Needless to say, these guys have built up quite a reputation for themselves, leaving me dying to try one of their UK locations. So when I got the chance to visit Gloria in Shoreditch? You didn't have to ask me twice.
If there's one thing Big Mamma does well, it's Instagram-worthy interiors.
DesignMyNight Review Of Gloria Shoreditch
As I walked down Great Eastern Street, the buzzing atmosphere in Gloria was already obvious, and as soon as we entered we could see that this place was packed full of equally eager diners. The ground floor of Gloria is designed to replicate 1970s Capri, with gorgeous pastel furnishings and decorative plates lining the wall to give it a nostalgic feel. An island vibe was also created by the abundance of flowery plants on display here.
We only caught a brief glimpse of this area though, as we were led down to the basement for our table. The decor downstairs was a little different, as we entered through a red velvet curtain that gave the place a more sultry feel, matched by the dark red interiors and low lighting, as well as a mirrored ceiling. The 70s theme was still strong here though, thanks to a colourful patterned carpet straight out of your nan's house - in a good way.
The over-the-top theme at Gloria continues onto their cocktail list, which offers a number of twists on the classics. I chose a Brooklyn sour (£14), blending Earl Grey-infused vodka with peach liqueur, lemon juice, raspberry puree and Sicilian lemonade to create a tart concoction with a sweet kick from the raspberry. My dinner date decided to modify one of their mocktails instead, adding a shot of rum (£6.50) to the Coco Loco (£9). This was similar to a pina colada, with coconut cream, orange and pineappple juice - served in an eccentric, colourful cup shaped like a man's head and decorated with tropical fruit.
Expect a quirky twist on your drinks at a Gloria Shoreditch booking.
Much like it does at all of the Big Mamma Group restaurants, the Gloria menu changes on a monthly basis, though many of their classics remain the same. This month's offering was particularly enticing, and there was plenty to choose from. For starters, we shared two of their antipasti, the first of which was the insalata di pomodori e ricotta (£9). To save you whipping out Goggle translate, this was a tomato salad, chopped up with mixed herbs, red onion and creamy ricotta, coated in a basil-heavy salsa verde. This was a gorgeously fresh start to the meal, and the tomatoes were rich with herby flavour. We paired this with a honey, I truffled the crochetta (£9.50): gooey cacio e pepe-filled crochetta, oozing with provola cheese. These were similar in shape and texture to arancini but made of potato, and were topped with a mouthwatering truffle honey and fresh truffle shavings.
For the main course, I ordered an emrata burrata (£15.50). This was one of their authentic Neapolitan pizzas, flaunting a thick, doughy crust and a generous amount of rich tomato sauce on the base. The toppings included creamy chunks of burrata, black olives and salty capers, resulting in a tangy twist on the typical cheese and tomato pizza. This was a delicious choice, though the floppiness of the base made eating it a slight challenge.
My boyfriend went for pasta instead: a paccheri alla norma (£16). The thick-cut tubes of pasta were very firm, loaded with a San Marzano tomato and aubergine sauce and served on a fresh, lemony ricotta base. Although this dish was good, we both felt that it wasn't quite as flavourful as our other picks, and I wouldn't order this one again.
The Gloria Shoreditch reviews all mention meringue, but this chocolate tart is a hidden gem.
We ordered another round of cocktails after our mains, mine being the Match Point Rossini (£14), which combined a fresh strawberry puree with elderflower liqueur, Champagne and orange-flavoured foam. This was a nice sweet end to the meal, but I probably preferred my first drink of the two. My partner chose a Who Rums The World (£13) instead, mixing Havana Club three-year rum with Aperol, lime juice and a homemade pineapple syrup - resulting in a fruity yet very boozy blend.
Of course, we had to try some of Big Mamma Group's famous desserts too, and these are the real showstoppers of the Gloria Shoreditch menu. The huge slices of lemon meringue pie did look tempting as we watched them being whisked around the restaurant, but we were both a little too full for these. Our first choice was a sticky toffee tortino (£8.50) - an Italian twist on the classic British dessert. This was a warm date pudding soaked in a toffee, hazelnut and coffee sauce, with tiramisu cream on top. The coffee taste was a little overpowering for me, though I'm sure avid drinkers would be a fan, but overall this was a tasty spin on the dish.
Next up was our favourite of the two: an Italian chocolate tart (£11). This was a sweet, but not too sickly, mix of chocolate and salted caramel on a bed of whipped cream that filled the entire plate - topped with a flake of crispy coffee praline. This is a very indulgent option, but I'd highly recommend it.
Gloria: Overall
This was my first visit to a Big Mamma Group restaurant, and my very high expectations were well and truly met. The interiors at Gloria are absolutely stunning, as to be expected from these venues, and the basement space is perfect for date nights thanks to its sultry lighting and intimate atmosphere. Creatively presented food can often be a case of style over substance, but that's far from the truth with this restaurant - each of our dishes was as delicious as it was beautiful. Overall, I'd be keen to try more of Big Mamma's dishes as they change each month.
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💰 Price: £126 for two, including three courses and two drinks each. 📍 Address: 54-56 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3QR. 👌 Perfect for: A special occasion, thanks to the stunning decor. ⭐ Need to know: The Gloria London menu changes slightly each month. |
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