Japanese and Italian may seem unlikely bedfellows, but this mash-up – also known as itameshi – dates back to the 1920s in Japan. And though Angelina opened up on Dalston Lane Terrace’s restaurant strip in 2019, it's still a pretty unique concept in London.
Inside, it’s a restaurant of two halves: the front is all monochromatic fancy dining with ashen marble tables, bold foliage and lantern lighting, while the back is home to a bustling L-shaped bar overlooking the kitchen.
On offer is a 13 dish kaiseki tasting menu for what feels like a rather reasonable £68 a head. Though it changes every five weeks, our most recent visit saw the production line of laser-focused chefs rattling out creamy and crispy (and pleasantly sizable) starters, such as cod cheek karaage and tempura courgette flower stuffed with miso ricotta.
Fun to eat and even more enjoyable to say is the wagyu ragu, which comes layered on a pleasantly goopy dashi and egg custard. A nori-dusted focaccia is a revelation, served with a marmalade and uni butter that tastes like breakfast in the best possible way. There’s more wagyu to come, slivers of A5 dolloped with citrus ponzu, before a ravioli souped in a tonkotsu-style broth. Previous visits have seen velvety soy butter on a John Dory fillet, sea bream sashimi delicately infused with bergamot, and bonito-dusted doughnuts with anchovy aioli.
Time Out tip
If you fancy an a la carte taste of itameshi, Angelina have a second space in Spitalfields. Osteria Angelina specialises in pasta, with the likes of tortellini with truffle and kombu, and ravioli with soy cured egg yolk and asparagus on the menu. There's also a whole selection of crudo and fritti as well as dishes cooked on the binchotan grill.
What should I drink?
The wine pairing comes in at £55 (with a fancier version at £95) and is full of boozy bangers. House red and white are £8 a glass if you want to keep things a little cheaper.