Polentina - (Near Tower Hamlets, South East)

5 /5 Liam Gee: Really fun flavoursome food, all the dishes using a lot of nose to tail cooking such as the pigs head or calves brain were our favourites! Service was also really great we loved everything looking forward to coming back again. Couldn’t recommend more

3 /5 Giuseppe Morana: Excellent quality but small portions and overpriced. Pros: - Quality food/wine - Friendly service (Sebastiano was amazing) - Unique vibe (inside an industrial setting) Cons: - Small portions (look at the cheese plate, for example: three little pieces of cheese and a little bit of jam: around £13. Or look at the pear with some fused chocolate: around £10) - Overpriced (especially compared to the portions)

5 /5 Priya Hawes: I had a wonderful time at Polentina with a friend and her baby. As soon as you walk in you’re met with an engulfing smell of what is on the menu that week and a nice, calm atmosphere with a huge glass window that looks onto the factory they’re located in. I’ve never been in such an unusual yet inviting place before. They were so accommodating and gave us the biggest table so we had space for the buggy. Alongside this excellent service, the manager Sebastiano chose some of the highlights for us and we enjoyed them alongside some refreshing natural white wine. I’ve never had calf’s brain before but it was so soft and light despite it being deep fried. Genuinely the best Italian food I’ve had in London. Pizza and pasta have a special place in my heart but there is so much more to Italian cuisine and this place really showcases that. Special shoutout to the cannellini beans… so buttery, delicate and so simple. I couldn’t recreate it at home even if I tried. Will definitely be returning to try what Sophia comes up with next!

4 /5 Ellie: Unpretentious elegant menu in a cozy light filled upstairs space. Do not expect bombastic, attention grabbing flavors… humble seasonal ingredients made with twists to familiar dishes seems to be the name of the game. Staff had great suggestions for my order and were very friendly and warm. Apricot dumpling was unexpectedly huge! Very bright and juicy end to my lunch.

5 /5 Katrin Vangelova: Authentic taste, interesting options and seasonal menu that doesn’t get boring makes this place worth trying. It is what you would expect from a good Italian cuisine. The wine selection is quite small but good - the pinot grigio recommended was definitely to everybody’s taste. Price range is on the upper side, which was surprising considering the location in East London.