On a sweltering Thursday, we strolled through Soho and to be totally honest, we were unsure whether dining inside on an early evening was the smartest move. The idea of a chilled, intimate setting with just the right amount of post-work hubbub felt like a lot to ask. But it became clear a glorious decision had been made as soon as we stepped into Obicà Mozzarella Bar - especially when Italian food is life, and burrata has been on the brain all day.
Obicà's menu is an Italian heaven.
When the brand initially opened in Rome, Obicà Parlamento became the first mozzarella bar in the world. Since then, this pizza and pasta specialist has built an empire of eateries. We’re talking Tokyo, Rome, Milan, Florence, New York and, of course, Poland Street in London. With additional city sites in Canary Wharf and St Pauls, the Soho venue had a cosy, yet lively feel to it and the playlist of panpipes and bongos gave a soothing, tropical vibe as we grabbed our table for two.
Naturally, it was time to embrace those vibes with a suitable choice of bev. Because it was a school night, we decided to ease in with a Monterosa (£9), made of ginger ale, grenadine and a citrus mix, as well as an arianciata-flavoured San Pellegrino (£4.50). Whatever your drinking fancies are, these refreshing tipples will go down as an absolute treat.
Deciding how to kick your meal off here is not a question of what small plate to pick, but more ‘what sort of mozzarella would you like alongside your starter?’ As that delish ingredient is Obicà’s bag, you really ought to give it a go. The stracciatella di burrata (£9), went perfectly as a partner to our focaccina origano (£6.50) and 24-month air-cured prosciutto crudo di parma (£10), which both remained reliable companions throughout the meal.
Obicà Mozzarella Bar in London has beaut interiors, boasting lush greenery and ambient lighting.
The slices were topped with colossal sizes of sea salt and plenty of olive oil added by yours truly. As you can imagine, the burrata from Puglia was seriously creamy, so it’s easy to see why people flock to Poland Street for their cheesy fix.
Moving onto mains (with our trusty focaccia in tow) and because sharing food is mostly the best way to dine, we dived into a bowl of cacio e pepe (£14.50). This dish was full of rich flavours and contained DOP-certified pecorino romano, black pepper and crusco pepper from Senise. Thanks to a pretty long, yet spenny wine list, the venue offers plenty of choice. We opted for a crisp glass of Cantele Salento Rosato 2021 (£12), but on another less balmy evening could have sunk a bottle of Cirelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021 (£50).
In a nod to our citrussy start, we rounded the evening off with a thick and fluffy slice of ricotta di bufala and lemon cake (£7.50). It’s a pud you can’t help but devour and then grin after finishing, which is simply the perfect way to end any meal.
The pasta-bilities are endless at this joint.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Whatever season or time of the day you decide to go, Obicà has a combination of dishes that’ll tick all the boxes you need. The Poland Street also eatery manages to strike a sweet balance between intimate and lively, while serving the best burrata you’re likely to ever taste. Ever.
|
💰 The damage: Around £87 for two people sharing small plates with a glass of wine and mocktail each. 📍 The location: 19-20 Poland St, London W1F 8QF. 👌 Perfect for: Date nights, post-work bites and long lunches. ⭐ Need to know: Obicà's first-ever mozzarella bar opened in Rome back in 2004. |
Craving more? For more London inspo and the latest news, sign up to our weekly newsletter.
