Angelina

Three of us came to Angelina in Dalston for lunch as part of a small London Pride celebration. The restaurant serves a Japanese and Italian fusion set menu, with the option to add a wine pairing. The booking process was the weakest part of the experience. Their website repeatedly showed a “Missing Refresh Token: undefined” error, and I had to try different cards, addresses, and combinations of boxes before the reservation finally went through. Not the smoothest start for a restaurant operating at this level. I had previously visited their newer sister restaurant, Osteria Angelina in Shoreditch, so the comparison was interesting. The interiors are quite similar, but service here felt noticeably more polished, confident, professionally paced, and friendlier. The food also ended up being much tastier overall, which makes sense given this is the original. Once seated, the only real decision was whether to add the wine pairing, which we did. I really enjoyed the progression, and especially the glassware. The fine stems were genuinely beautiful and added to the sense of occasion. The team asked about allergies and dislikes before the meal, and they handled my friend’s dietary preferences very well. Everything was accommodated without making the experience feel disrupted. The dishes were consistently well executed, and the wines generally complemented them nicely. At first, the portions looked very small and the pours seemed minimal, but by the end we were satisfied, not completely full but comfortably fed. Early in the meal, we were offered the option to add two extra courses at £9 per person per course. We declined, though in hindsight it was difficult to judge whether we would need them before seeing the full progression. My favourite wines were the Monte Rossa “Coupé” Franciacorta and the Pojer e Sandri “FAYE” white. Food highlights included the antipasti, pasta, and the binchotan course, which was especially well judged, with precise cooking and layered, intricate flavour. There was also a small salad-like dish served with the fourth wine, consisting of a few leaves and berries. It was refreshing, and we assumed it was intended as a palate cleanser, though it felt a little unexpected within the progression. One slightly frustrating detail is that the card given to us was only a general introduction to the Kondate menu, rather than a list of the dishes. I even took a photo of it, assuming it would include the full list, only to realise later that it didn’t. It would have been lovely to be able to check the details during the meal and afterwards, especially as the online menu had already been updated by the time I looked. Overall, this experience felt thoughtful, refined, and well coordinated. The food, service, and wine programme all worked together, and it was clear why Angelina has built such a strong reputation. The bill came to about £500 for three people, so it’s definitely on the higher end, but I did have a good time. Lastly, I am curious about one thing: given that the pairings are pre-planned, would the team be able to swap out more tannic reds for alternative wines if a guest prefers lighter styles?

We had an amazing dinner here with my husband. We went through a meticulously well prepared kondate menu, each dish carried a special touch which we will remember by this specific restaurant like a signature. We loved how the japanese and italian cuisines meet on our plates. Also we loved our cocktails. We will definitely be back.

We came here for a special occasion. My daughter’s 30th birthday. We were in London for the weekend and even though it was a bit far from where we were staying, but we decided to go. I was a bit surprised at the minimal decor. The tasting menu was fun and tasty. I especially loved the presentation on lovely ceramic dishes. The staff was so attentive and we loved the extra attention and the Polaroid picture of us. Thank you for a lovely evening.

The Angelina experience is definitely worth coming for in the heart of Dalston. My favourite courses were the starter trio (prawn crackers, monkfish liver brioche and the Chawanmushi with Italian-inspired flavors), which were all memorable and well-executed. My husband especially enjoyed the main dish (surf and turf with monkfish and veal, Parmesan butter on rice was a really nice touch). The fish and dessert were also very enjoyable and refreshing. The multi-course tasting menu is honestly very generous and feels thoughtfully put together. We didn’t go for the wine pairing as my stomach wasn’t feeling the best, but from what we saw at the table next to us, it looked like a great complement to the meal. I recommend the sparkling hojicha. I do wish they could offer a tea pairing option in the future for those who couldn’t tolerate alcohol to complement the amazing dishes. The service was very lovely and made the experience even more special — we received a candle on top of our dessert for the celebration, and a Polaroid photo of us. It was such a thoughtful touch. We would definitely come back for another experience in the future :)