Open since 1967, Scotti’s is legendary in London’s Italian caff game.
There isn’t a menu, but there are favourites; the chicken escalope ciabatta sandwich with the works (tomato, lettuce, and mayo) being the main draw at lunchtime, swiftly followed by the cappelletti pasta in brodo (known as the soup), as well as sausage and bacon rolls for breakfast. There’s usually a host of other sandwiches (roast chicken, tuna, beef, cotoletta veal chop) too, but you basically ask for anything you feel like having and then the friendly guys who run the place will see what they can do. A quite unhinged system, but it works a treat.
Family-run, Scotti’s is in what was once the Italian heartland of London, and there remain a few neighbouring spots that share their hertiage; Terroni’s of Clerkenwell (which dates back to 1878) and Casa Italiana social club, which opened in 1960. The deeply old-school decor is a delight; Formica tables, mosaic tiles, a vintage Coca-Cola fridge, pot plants, and a glass cabinet declaring Hot Snacks on offer, as well as various photos of Mother Teresa. Sitting inside is a joy in itself, but on a sunny day the plastic tables outside overlooking Clerkenwell Green and in front of the shop’s Wes Anderson-worthy primrose yellow frontage are, unsuprisingly, in high demand.
Time Out tip
Scotti’s is only open Tuesdays to Fridays (not on Mondays or weekends), from 7am-3pm.