Peter Morrell and his wife enjoy the food and atmosphere while dining with a friend in this charming Italian restaurant

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intention. As so it has been with a good friend who we keep promising to meet for dinner but never make time. However recently we named a date and as she lives in North London and we are South of the river Camden Town was nominated as a mutually convenient location to meet.

My next task was to find somewhere that served light food and was comfortable for a catch up on what was happening to our respective families. A bit of internet research revealed Il Sugo, apart from it being a short walk from the tube station it offered Cicchetti, Italian tapas ideal for a light bite.

The restaurant was very cosy and had a small terrace at the front for al fresco dining. Although the restaurant was quite busy and had atmosphere it was still quiet enough to have a conversation without shouting. We studied the menu and as well as the promised Cicchetti there was a good selection of pizzas, pasta, risottos, meat, fish and salads.

We ordered a selection of Cicchetti to share – Bruschetta al Pomodoro, crisp slices of bread with a topping of fresh marinated tomatoes, basil and olive oil, Calamari Fritti, fried squid with tartar sauce, Carpaccio di Bresaola cured beef with rocket and truffle oil, Gamberoni All’Aglio sauteed prawns with garlic and lemon in a white wine sauce and marinated olives,

They were all good, the squid wad crisp on the outside with a tender centre, the cured beef had lots of flavour and the prawns were delicious. The five dishes were more than enough for the three of us.

There was a good wine list, we had two aromatic Italian whites, a sauvignon blanc and a pinot grigio that both matched the food well without overwhelming it. Desserts were beyond us but if we had left room then there were temptations like Tiramisu and Panna Cotta.

The service was warm and friendly, the food was very fresh and flavoursome and it was remarkably good value for money. In all a very agreeable dining experience and just the right environment to hear all the news from a good friend.

Il Sugo
1-3 Pratt Street
Camden Town
London NW1 0AE

www.ilsugo.co.uk

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