Going strong since 1959, this Chapel Market institution may bill itself as an ‘Italian snack bar’ these days, but at heart it’s still a grand old greasy spoon. Ginormous fry-ups, pancakes, kippers and porridge will set you up for the day, while traditional sarnies sit alongside filled ciabattas and baguettes. At lunch, it’s all about hefty plates of pasta, risottos and other trattoria stalwarts at knock-down prices, with proper coffee and wall-to-wall photos of Serie A footie stars pointing up the venue’s Italian connections. Note that Alpino shuts soon after lunch each day.
August 2019: No new greasy spoons have opened recently (none that we’re aware of, anyway) but we’ve scoped out all our favourites and we’re pleased to report that they’re all doing very nicely indeed.
Ah, the greasy spoon. These traditional cafés are where formica tables, full English breakfasts and milky, milky tea rule supreme. These mostly family-run joints offer a welcome warmer than the toast and well faded 'celebrity' photos on the walls, and we love them for it. But, alas, they're a dying breed in London these days, so we've decided to celebrate the finest caffs in the capital. Long live the greasy spoon!