Franglais27 Tales

London is a city of re-invention and there is no other scene that embraces this concept to the fullest like its food scene. Scarcely a week goes by without a new restaurant opening being announced, which is exciting news for this reviewer who loves visiting London’s new openings.

As such, the announcement of a new opening in Soho, being 64 Old Compton Street – that is both the restaurant’s name and its location, was welcomed. Based in the heart of Soho with red signage and outdoor tables, the restaurant does look welcoming and the option to dine al fresco is ideal for those summer evenings.

64 Old Compton Street opened its doors to the public on 3 July 2023, just after the London Pride event. It is the sister restaurant of the family run 40 Dean Street and equally specialises in homemade Italian cuisine. Restaurant owner Nima Safei equally adds his business flair to 64 Old Compton Street. There is a homely vibe inside the restaurant, with an intimate setting. Bold blue patterned walls are adorned by gold framed mirrors and paintings and you should try to secure a table with the soft backed seating and cushions. The overall atmosphere at 64 Old Compton Street is convivial.

The restaurant’s menu comprises the traditional Italian dishes that one may expect such as garlic bread and parmigiana as starters. The garlic bread with mozzarella cheese was a favourite and has just the right amount of cheese and is flavourful. We also ordered the fried squid and zucchini, which was a generous sized portion. The squid tasted fresh with a light batter coating and the zucchini fries were a nice twist for the dish and extremely moreish! The starters on the menu range from £6.40 to £14.50, at the time of writing, and are therefore reasonably priced for Central London.

On to the main courses and as you might expect, there are a range of pizzas, with vegetarian options, in the £13-£16 range and there are salad options too.

However, we opted for the pasta dishes with the linguine tiger prawns and the spinach ravioli with ricotta. Again, the linguine was a generous portion with lots of seafood to satisfy a seafood lover. The spinach ravioli had a bit too much sauce for my liking, as it is very buttery, but was fully enjoyed by my dining companion. The linguine and ravioli were cooked well to al dente.

After those two delicious, but filling mains, it was tempting to avoid dessert. But, it is always possible to make some room for dessert! The desserts on offer are the traditional Italian offerings with panna cotta and tiramisu listed on the menu.

We opted for the chocolate fondant and the pistachio tiramisu which were both delicious. The pistachio prevents the tiramisu from being overly sweet, which is a nice touch. The desserts are currently a reasonable £6.50 and there is also a cheese platter option. The wine pairing of the La Ferme Petit Paul rosé was also light, fruity and refreshing and the ideal accompaniment to the meals.

64 Old Compton Street is the type of venue where people can become regulars with its tasty, well made dishes that will not break the bank. Plus, it is ideally placed close to Theatreland to be ideal for pre and post theatre dinner with quick and friendly service. Or, after dinner you might just wish to dance the night away at its neighbouring Soho venues.

For more information about 64 Old Compton Street, click here.