Del Mercato - Southwark

This restaurant serves some of the best pizzas in the area. Their toppings are more unique and tailored than what you would find at a typical chain restaurant. In addition, their pizzas have a great crust and are consistently high quality and delicious.

When you think of London Bridge you could be forgiven for thinking about London Dungeons or the fresh food housed in the famous Borough Market rather than its restaurant exploits.As a Londoner I have visited Borough Market many times before, soaking up the friendly atmosphere that London’s largest and oldest market affords. The Market is a wonderful attack on the senses with vibrant colours and rich smells of fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses, cakes and coffee.Del Mercato is situated on the other side of Borough Market in the Vinopolis Piazza. Being a stone’s throw from the ninety-five storey Shard and located on the quaint Stoney Street I knew the potential to create a very popular restaurant was a distinct possibility.Vinopolis Piazza houses a bar and Ristorante Del Mercato a modern Italian restaurant, deceptively disguised by being placed in a traditional bricked railway arch but with a modern twist of an all glass fronted building.On entering we were warmly welcomed and shown to our seats on the upper level of the restaurant. Much thought has gone into the seating which has been strategically placed around the edges so that guests are able to make the most of the views of the market and old fashioned streets. One distinct plus is that plenty of space has been given between tables so that patrons do not feel like they are having dinner with other guests.Considerable thought has been given to making the most of the restaurant’s location. The seating offers a distinctly modern view to diners through the floor to ceiling glass fronted windows that look out onto an impressive array of brightly coloured umbrellas hanging upside down whilst commuter trains run along the skyline of the market outside. This thoughtful design even extends to discretely placed windows in the restrooms that give you the chance to see the views of borough market, and bare brick work of the old railway arch.We settled into our comfortable chairs and were presented with a basket of mixed artisan breads freshly baked next door; which with the balsamic vinegar and oil, I am in danger of eating everything and ruining my appetite. Fortunately, my companion’s greed knows no bounds, leaving me a little room for later. The tasty bread comes with the world’s longest bread sticks which with my dining companion and I were extremely tempted to begin playing stick wars.If you are an Italian wine connoisseur then you are extremely well catered for here with wines on offer from all over Italy: North, West, East, Central, Southern and the Islands. Glasses of wine range in price bottles are considerably more ranging from We plump for the Pinot Grigio Doc Cantina Terlano, Sudtirol, Alto Adige br/>The restaurant has a winter promotion: two courses and three courses all based on seasonal produce, a perfect opportunity for the chef to test out items not on the main menu.Whilst the Carpaccio of beef is tempting on the winter promotional menu I am drawn to the Fried Toma Brusca Cheese with salad of Castelfranco Radicchio, Artichokes, Pine nuts and Vincotto My companion opts for Tagilolini with Crab Meat, Spring Onions, Red Sweet Chilly and Lime All main pastas are sensibly also offered as starter size alternatives.The Pinot Grigio wine is poured and has a crisp citrus taste which our waiter reassures us will be a good complement to the cheese and crab pasta starters. The addition of the pre-starter taster that arrives on the table is a nice surprise with cured meats, Napoli olives which have a wonderful apple taste to complement the anchovy fritters.Our starters are soon to arrive; the pan fried Toma Brusca cheese has the consistency of a cheesy omelette, with artichoke and warm chicory. This dish has a strong mix of flavours, cheese and bitter tones from the chicory. The combination pleasantly works well. My companion, who has keenly awaited his crab pasta, is disappointed as although well-cooked the dish has very little flavour other than lemon and unfortunately no taste of chilli or lime.For my main I decide to opt for the slow cooked Pork Belly, honey glazed served with savoy cabbage, caramelised apple, mash potato and roasting jus Although not a typically Italian dish with the recently wintery weather London is experiencing it is exactly the home cooked comfort meal that I am craving. My guest decides to continue with the fish theme and goes for roasted fillets of Red Mullet wrapped in pancetta. Served with celeriac cream and sun-dried tomatoes dressing br/>I was not disappointed when my pork main arrived as it looked exactly as I hoped it would. The waft of pork, apple and bouillon made me over-keen to tuck in. The pork melted in my mouth and had benefited from its slow cooking. The additional flavours of the caramelised apple and cabbage were wonderful. If you are looking for home comfort cooking this pork dish definitely ticks all the boxes. The look of my companion’s dinner was similarly appealing with two small red snappers wrapped in pancetta blankets, in contrast to the green and cream celeriac cream mash. I was keen to have a taste, personal preference the fish and pancetta for me had been overcooked and as a consequence had lost some of its moisture. The mash however of celeriac cream managed to rebalance some of the dryness of the Red Mullet.The dessert menu has many of the traditional Italian classics, Tiramisu with coffee cream “Caprese” cake with caramelised banana, eggnog sauce and vanilla ice cream We decide however to finish our evening on the Artisan Cheese Selection, served with Moscato jelly, grapes and Pan Brioche. Significant thought has gone into the selections of cheese, the sweet and tangy flavours of the blue gourmet cheese were a particular favourite.Del Mercato offers diners a friendly, spacious environment for a relaxing meal. The comprehensive wine list and freshly baked bread make Del Mercato a great restaurant to finish off a day of sightseeing or extending an office meeting at London Bridge.

When you think of London Bridge, you might first think of tourist attractions like the London Dungeons or the bustling Borough Market. As a local, I have frequented Borough Market many times and always appreciate its friendly and lively atmosphere. Del Mercato, located on the other side of Borough Market in Vinopolis Piazza, offers a different dining experience. Situated near the iconic Shard and on charming Stoney Street, the restaurant has great potential to be a top spot in the area. With its vibrant colors and enticing aromas of fresh produce, cheese, cakes, and coffee, Borough Market is a feast for the senses.