Peter Morrell goes back to the place of his youth and finds it just as lively and with an improved food scene
When I first moved to London, not years but decades ago, I lived in Streatham for a while and remember it was always very lively with lots going on in the High Road. My good friend and hospitality veteran, Andreas, has recently opened a restaurant in my old stamping ground, so I thought it would be good to see if the place had changed and to try his new restaurant, Trio Pizzeria.
Driving down Leigham Court Road, passing Mount Nod Road, where I had a rodent infested flat, made me feel quite nostalgic. Soon I was on the busiest part of the High Road where Andreas has set up shop.
Along with my wife and a group of friends, we were soon settled in, admiring the stylish décor. We sipped a Peroni beer and nibbled on garlic pizza bread as we took a look at the menu. Having decided before arriving that the main course would be pizza made choosing easier, although there are numerous other options including meat, fish and salads available.
The big decision was what the starters would be. The gamberi – pan-fried king prawns served with dough balls – and the goat’s cheese on ciabata were both tempting but our final choice was the calamari. This was delicious, served with sea salt, fresh chilli and spring onion. it had been deep fried and was crispy on the outside with a moist and tender centre.
All the pizzas are eleven inches wide, thin crust and stone baked with extra virgin olive oil. A combination of this and quality ingredients from carefully sourced suppliers guarantee that whichever one you choose it will be good.
My wife went for the Capricciosa, topped with pepperoni sausage, ham, olives, capers, mozarella, tomato and oregano, and crowned with an egg. I had selected the Four Seasons featuring pepperoni sausage, ham, olives, mushrooms, anchovies, mozarella, tomato and oregano. They were both uplifting and the ingredients had precise flavours which worked well together. The base was light and satisfyingly crunchy.
The wine list is quite short but features both Italian and international favourites like Valpolicella, Chianti and Chardonnay. Our drinking companions for the evening were a red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and a white Sauvignon Blanc. The former, known to be ‘pizza friendly’, had good plummy aromas on the nose which developed into fruity flavours in the mouth with hints on dried herbs. The well-balanced tannins gave it a strong finish. The white showed notes of tropical fruits in the bouquet which were joined by citrus flavours on the palate. The good acidity gave it a fresh and crisp finish.
Not having a sweet tooth, my wife and I passed on the dessert but other members of the party indulged in a range of decadent delights like chocolate fudge cake, honeycomb cheesecake and of course tiramisu.
Most nights of the week there is a jazz musician and the evening we visited was no exception. The pianist entertained us throughout the meal and added to the buzzy atmosphere being created by the other diners.
We really enjoyed the restaurant and Andreas was the perfect host as the charming and personable ‘front of house’. It was also good to find out that Streatham has not lost any of its sparkle and is now an even better place to eat.
Trio Pizzeria has just announced its Christmas menu which you can see online by clicking here…
Trio Pizzeria
19 The High Parade
Streatham High Road
Streatham
London SW16 1EX
020 8835 8455
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