Gastronomica

We ate dinner there last night and really enjoyed it. Our server was a very sweet-natured young guy and we enjoyed talking to him. My husband ordered a pasta with mushrooms dish and he said it was very good, although the portion was small. I had the vegetarian lasagna - and not only was it really delicious, but it was also a very substantial serving.

The interior was incredibly hot when we entered, so we took advantage of the good weather and sat at one of the outdoor tables.

Loved this place so much we kept coming back.

The fresh squeezed orange juice is a must - I watched him squeeze it in a little blending machine right there.

So is the sottoli appetizer, so long as you like pickled items. The mushrooms were amazing.

And the hot chocolate... Blew my away. The chocolate flavor is so rich, and they put whipped cream on the side so it won't melt, instead you can spoon it in as you eat it.

We did have the pasta, which was good but they were out of the noodles it usually comes with, which made me sad. I hope I can go back a third time and try even more of their dishes.

Great spot for coffee/snacks/pastries/cheeses/etc. Very good service. Good location. Everything is good here!

As a Pimlico local, I have been to Gastronomica a few times. In a sentence I would describe it as good but not great.

FOOD: The pizzas are sizable and will satisfy a craving but there aren't many interesting menu options here and aren't wood oven (not as delicious or crunchy). The best entrée option is the lasagna which is better than the average and reasonably priced.

SERVICE: the service can be a bit slow and sometimes doesn't always understand English. But is always friendly and serves with a smile.

VALUE: best part of Gastronomica is that it is reasonably priced with large portions

Come if you are in the area but don't make the trip out just for Gastronomica.

Originally this deli style shop, started with a stall at the glorious Borough Market, but business has been good, and now theyve opened a shop in Pimlico, and it is beyond yummy, if you pop by at lunch time, you can have a pick of the freshest loveliest ingredients to have in your sandwich, what's more, they have tasting trays of all the delicious food they sell, it is a great way to get you purchasing not only a sandwich, but some home made sun dried tomatoes, to actually make your own gastronomic experience at home. Slightly expensive, the place has simple décor, and a great selection of wines.
Its really close to the Pimlico Tube.

We came between lunch and dinner. The Caprese salad is a generous portion and delicious. Very attentive wait staff who let us try wines and different meats before making a decision. Authentic. Highly recommend this place.

My buddy and I were stumbling around town after having visited the Indian Visa Processing Centre-which was a bit stressful-trying to find a decent cup of coffee. What we found, initially, was a wee street market in Pimlico! One of the concessionaires chatted us up as we were drooling over his cheese selection. We asked if he knew where one could find good coffee is the area, and he said, "I have a shop just up the road..."

Viola! We found ourselves in Gastronomica! The space is beset with large, dark wood 'family style' tables, a few 2-top tables, and two outside tables. Gastro wasn't totally inviting, atmospherically speaking. -must've been all the dark wood. The vibe was kind of "heavy". However, that did not stop us from each having two rounds of espresso drinks (2 double machiattos, 2 lattes), a chocolate muffin, and three bit-sized puff pastry stuffed with Gorgonzola. The bill came to 11.10, and we caught a nice coffee buzzzz.

The nibbles were heated up before arriving at our table. My friend thought that that was a nice touch. I, on the other hand, am not a fan of "nuked" food. I was really taken with my double espresso-marked-with-foam drinkies. The espresso was smooth, easily drinkable (I did have two of 'em!) with no sourness that sometimes characterizes a not-so-well-pulled shot.

The service was friendly in a, perhaps, Piemonte, Italy sort of way. Hey!
Speaking of Piemonte, there is a large selection of Italian vino for sale on display here. I'd wanted to get my hands on a perky, little Lambrusco, but, feeling wimpy, didn't wish to carry a bottle home. :S -next time!

This small Italian restaurant and deli near Victoria has a pretty impressive selection of aged meats and interesting cheeses. However, I was by for a meal.

The roast eggplant salad hit the spot --- marinated peppers, well-cooked eggplant (though the skin was a bit tough), and a nice balance of flavors overall.

The spinach lasagne, however, was almost inedible --- overcooked spinach that tasted like it'd been in the freezer too long, rubbery cheese, and nothing else. No pasta, no veggies, no sauce --- just a congealing spinach-cheese mass.

The clientele was fun (especially an older tweed-clad table), the waiter was reasonable, and most of the food was good --- but stay away from that lasagne.

This place is really an interesting discovery. We went there for some cheerful dinner after work.

At first, I was stunned to see that the restaurant serves also as Italian deli/grocer. The high quality and amazing pasta, olive oils and excellent wines filled the shelves and added quite an atmosphere to the place. It reminded me of my trip to Tuscany good few years back.

Although, if you think about bringing your date here think twice as the place is very well lit and to less extent private so it lacks the appropriate setting.

However fear not, the food quality served here is excellent. Not to mention quantity! We were politely discouraged by the waiter from ordering more than one starter to share (it was meant for two people and there were four of us). He asked us: are you really that hungry!? The amount of cheese and other nibs was more than satisfying, so rare to find at London restaurants. And the wine! Please try the wines off the list. They have quite a vast choice. Our choice of Chianti from slightly different region was definitely not a disappointment.

For the main we had pizzas, ravioli and gnocchi. Needless to say, the quality was excellent and that's exactly what we expected from the simple and healthy Italian dinner. The staff was also great. They were pretty quick and didn't invade our conversations and were chatty and witty at the same time.

We couldn't have deserts because we were completely full from wining and dining. I will be definitely back another time to check those out.

First day in London from U.S. Perfect dinner after travel. Great Italian food options light or hardy meals. Beer and wine. Fantastic staff!