A new cut-price pasta restaurant with bowls for as little as £4 is to open in Holborn next month.
Called Pastino, the concept is similar to established brand Coco di Mama, serving fresh pasta over the counter.
The newcomer opened a branch in Tottenham Court Road last year and might be the cheapest on the market, with aglio e olio at just £3.95 per portion, tomato for a fiver and amatriciana for £7.
Sides and small plates include mushroom arancini and deep-fried lasagne bites at £5 each.
Aimed at commuters and office workers in central London, Pastino appears to rival other quick restaurants, with some space to sit and stand but mostly for those who want to take away.
It comes as London’s pasta market continues to evolve. Other relatively low-cost pasta joints include Pastaio, the chef Stevie Parle’s Soho restaurant (plates from £13), Padella, the queue-inspiring restaurant in Borough where excellent pasta still costs less than £15, and Pasta Evangelists (from £12.50).
Phil Howard, who held two Michelin stars at his Fitzrovia restaurant the Square for 17 years up until 2020, is also getting in on the act. A second Notto — his casual Italian restaurant — venue is to open in Liverpool Street this year, with takeaway pots of pasta the theme alongside a “Burrata Bar”. There, pasta dishes will start at £12.50.
An announcement from Pastino said the concept is for “city workers and food lovers looking for something delicious, fast, and affordable”, suggesting the restaurant is “redefining what fast food looks like.”
Elsewhere on the menu are rigatoni with slow-cooked ragu, truffled cacio e pepe, and zazzona with fennel sausage and guanciale.
Pastino was founded by the restaurateur Ahmos Wasif little over a year ago. Wasif launched the business after spending more than 15 years at Franco Manca and the Real Greek.
Pastino, 75 High Holborn, WC1V 6LS, Pastino.co.uk
