Bank is an area of London you might associate with gilet-dressed finance employees, spilling out of a tavern with 'Arms' in its name, a crisp larger in hand. However, Bank is much more than an area reserved for post-work pints. A stroll through Bank will transport you back to the time when horse-drawn omnibuses clattered down cobbled streets, the spectacular grade II listed buildings towering above. One such building sits on Threadneedle street, the former home of British Linen Bank. Today, the residency has been passed onto Piazza Italiana, a restaurant that prides itself on authenticity, seasonal ingredients, and Italian classics created by Sicilian-born culinary maestro Remo Mazzucato.
As we stepped inside, the first thing that struck us was the sense of grandeur. Being a part of an industry that has conveniently rebranded 'cramped' as 'cozy', it was breathtaking to see the impressive scale of features inside this restaurant, from the intricate details on the high ceilings to the light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling arch windows. Piazza Italiana is refreshingly airy and open- a place where no tables clash elbows.
We settled into our white-clothed table and perused the menu. Working as a team, we agreed to share our starters and opted for a strawberry salad and beef carpaccio. The salad was a combination of a handful of ingredients; rocket and baby spinach, strawberries, goats cheese, and a drizzle of strawberry-infused balsamic. The carpaccio of beef was served with anchovy-pecorino aioli, rocket, and a generous sprinkling of parmesan. Both dishes were beautifully simple, and it is this simplicity that is the pure essence of Italian cooking. No fuss, just fresh, top-quality ingredients and natural flavours that come together and shine through each dish.
For mains, a pasta of some sort was non-negotiable- we were in an Italian restaurant after all. The ravioli al granchio seemed particularly irresistible, delicate pasta dough stuffed with soft white crab meat. It was nothing short of wonderful- the airy, light filling pairing perfectly with a lobster-tomato sauce. Quick to follow was the tuna, a firm yet moist steak that melted in the mouth, topped with a mediterranean chimichurri. The vibrant dashes of mango and cherry on the plate seemed to be for aesthetics at first glance, but the sweet gels were paramount in the medley of flavours. Much like our starters, the quality of ingredients and respect for tradition were apparent with each bite, resulting in two girls sitting in the centre of a restaurant, no words being spoken, just nodding eagerly at each other with each bite.
At this point the restaurant was bustling with couples, friends, and extended families joined together for an occasion of some sort. The time was 8pm and for us, the evening was coming to an end. But not without a sweet treat, of course. Upon the recommendation of our helpful waitress, we ordered one each. The Amalfi Lemon, which is presented as a lemon in colour and shape, cracks open its shell to reveal a light mousse inside with a heart of passion fruit, lime, lemon and grapefruit. The Peach Tarte Tatin is served as a generously-sized puff pastry, topped with caramelised peaches around the edges and a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the centre. Needless to say, both were devoured, and our plates left squeaky clean.
After our significant feed, we made our way back to Bank station to catch the tube, passing the final few stragglers, yet to make their way home from post-work drinks. An undeniably London-esque setting, and yet inside one of these historical banks, you might just find Italian cuisine at its very finest.
