Review on Ciullősteria
Ciullősteria or Ciullos, as it's affectionately called by its fans is located on London's busy Balham High Road, just five minutes walk from the station. Behind an unassuming interior, this ebullient family run Italian restaurant has an equally simple décor, but what Ciullos is big on is their delicious home style Italian cooking from the southern regions of Italy.
The kitchen sources the freshest local ingredients, as well as importing specialist products from Italy such as the oil used in their cooking, offering a good range of populist Mediterranean dishes to suit all pockets and palettes. The extensive menu showcases robust food that's simple in concept, sharply executed and bursting with natural flavours and be warned it comes in big portions! There's a classic antipasto misto with a selection of Italian hors d'oeuvre and well-conceived versions of traditional homemade pasta dishes such as Penne All'Arrabiata, pasta with tomato sauce garlic olive oil and touch of chilli or a great selection of 12 inch pizzas. Alongside dally specials. there's much to enjoy with Fegato Burro and Salvia, sliced calves liver with crispy pancetta and sage or from the sea, Orata a Limone, fresh whole sea bream oven baked with lemon sauce white wine and rosemary. If you still have room for dessert there's tiramisu, the Italian pick-me-up containing savoiardi biscuit, Marsala wine, egg and mascarpone cheese or maybe New York cheesecake with strawberry.
The all-Italian wine list is a well-annotated assortment of good-value regional bottles and special mention must go to the friendly staff, who do their utmost to ensure that you have a great experience in their restaurant.
Cuisine
Italian
Chef
Giuseppe Calcagno
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 3.00pm Sat (12.00 - 10.30pm Sun)
Dinner: 5.00 - 11.30pm Mon-Fri (5.30 - 11.30pm Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express