Artusi, a charming neighbourhood restaurant in Peckham, offers daily-made pasta and seasonal dishes in a relaxed setting, capturing the essence of Italian dining with a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
O pened in 2014, Artusi in Peckham uses daily-made pasta, seasonal ingredients, and Italian wines to create their ever-changing menu written on a chalkboard on their wall. Artusi is the epitome of a cosy neighbourhood restaurant. The moment you step in, it feels like the local spot that you come to after work where everyone greets you by name and says, ‘The usual today?’
Their simple yet thoughtful interiors reflect their food of the same sentiment. Filled with natural wood, cream-coloured walls, and a few tasteful canvases; the relaxed vibe matches the straightforward menu.
Each day, you can choose from a new selection of three starters and three mains, or a lunch meal deal consisting of a large pasta and a glass of wine, beer, or soft drink for £19. Today we tried the smoked ox tongue, aubergine Milanese, confit cod salad, sedanini with lamb sauce, cacio e pepe, and the amaretti for dessert.
We paired our starters with a glass of Riesling and a chilled red wine—and yes, you heard me correctly. Chilling red wine is always something I’ve secretly done at home, knowing that any proper wine drinker would yell at me for doing so. But now I have proof that it’s both allowed and delicious. We also enjoyed a complimentary couple of slices of their house-made sourdough with whipped butter. Extremely simple yet extremely tasty when done well, Artusi’s sourdough is thick, fluffy, crispy, and everything you want in a bread.
Highlights:
- Daily-Made Pasta: Fresh pasta crafted each day, ensuring vibrant flavours and quality.
- Seasonal Ingredients: Menus change daily, highlighting the best available produce.
- Cosy Ambience: A welcoming, local vibe with natural wood decor and a friendly atmosphere.
- Chalkboard Menu: Simple and straightforward, showcasing three starters and three mains each day.
- Affordable Dining: Great value with a lunch deal for £19, including a large pasta and a drink.
- Standout Dishes: Highlights include the sedanini with lamb sauce and the amaretti dessert.
- House-Made Sourdough: Thick, fluffy, and crispy sourdough served with whipped butter.
- Wine Pairing: Encourages unique pairings, including chilled red wine, breaking traditional norms.
Though the aubergine Milanese was something graciously brought to us without asking for it, it turned out to be my favourite starter. The breading was light and crisp, and the tomato sauce was sweet and not too acidic. The ox tongue, while not a texture I was personally in love with, was clearly expertly cooked and served in an herbaceous sauce with homemade pickles and mini croutons, creating a lovely bouquet of flavours and contrast of textures. The cod was cooked equally perfectly and served with butter lettuce, tomatoes, and a balsamic reduction. While all the ingredients were high-quality and treated well, one thing that we found missing across the board for the entire meal was salt. I understand that premium, fresh ingredients can stand alone and may not call for as much seasoning. But plain white fish with lettuce and tomato is a plate desperate for salt, as is breaded and fried aubergine, a vegetable without much flavour of its own. Had the chef simply sprinkled everything with a generous hand of salt before serving, our meal would have been nearly flawless.
I was shocked to find that the cacio e pepe was also sorely lacking in salt, something you’d think would come in spades when a dish calls for that much pecorino. The pasta was otherwise good, providing the funk from the cheese and a pepper-forward bite. However, it would have truly shone with a generous dusting of salt, or even if the pasta had been cooked in saltier water. The sedanini, on the other hand, was the highlight of the day. The lamb sauce and anchovies lent a meaty umami to the dish, with a briny pop from the capers and a fresh finish from the herbs. I would come back for this alone (if their menu didn’t change every day).
Competing for first-place dish was the amaretti with crème diplomat and a coffee crumble. Ironically, this dish may have been the saltiest that we ate all day. The coffee crumble was deliciously and deftly salted, adding a beautiful counterpart to the tangy pastry cream and the sweet, chewy almond biscuit. In my opinion, the true marker of a master dessert is a variety of textures and an absence of overwhelming sugar. This delivered that and more, hitting chewy, crunchy, creamy, sweet, salty, and sour all in one bite. And to top it off, the perfect £4 shooter of ice-cold Italian limoncello adds a bit of a sweet burn to the finale.
At Artusi, what you see is what you get. Simple food, executed well, at a very fair price. At £10 for a plate of homemade pasta, I would absolutely be willing to revisit Artusi to try a new menu…but maybe I’ll ask for a saltshaker next time.
