San Marco
Yesterday, we stumbled across San Marco, a lively Italian “Ristorante - Pizzeria” on Clapham High St. We were walking around, looking for a nice little place to have some dinner, stopping to peer at menus and see if anything caught my, oops, our fancy. The first thing M noticed was a bowl with resident goldfish in the window. Why? - we wondered. Peering through the window, we saw the place was packed with a queue of eager punters waiting for space - always a good sign. Checking out the menu, we noticed prices were very reasonable, and there was a “daily specials” menu scrawled on an orange flyer stuck to the window - again a good sign. We peeked through the door, but thought we’d try elsewhere, as we didn’t fancy waiting for a table. We walked further along the strip, past heaving bars and pubs, rowdy patrons spilling onto the footpaths. So many choices - noticed Esca (looked very quiet, M admired the tall, shelves, stacked neatly with deli-wares), Eco (very busy), and The Rapscallion (name sounds like a rock band - looked cool - scruffy, noisy, easy menu and reasonable value). Around the corner, we stopped to check out Gastro, in Venn St, opposite the Clapham Picture House. A & L had been there last year, and A said it had a great atmosphere - like a little slice of Paris. The menu read very French, but also very pricey. Gut feeling - no. About turn, and off to the high st again.
Anyway, we decided to keep Bierodrome and Bodean’s for a boys’ night out. Mmmm…beer…meat…. Before we knew it, we were back at San Marco, and the queue was gone - hurrah!
What a cool little place!Busy, lively, noisy, tables packed in. We were quickly whisked to a large 4-seater, which we kept for the rest of the evening. Staff were friendly and familiar, a nice change from the typical snooty lot infesting most London establishments. Chunky oaken(?) tables, wine and olive oil bottles lining the walls, a cabinet behind us with cutlery, wine glasses, bottles of passata - just like mama used to have! The most amazing chandelier hung from the ceiling, with real candles (red and white). Talk about the sword/light of Damocles! I mused on the carnage that would erupt, should the blasted thing drop onto the happy campers seated directly underneath, blithely unaware, guzzling red whilst tucking into their pasta primavera…M gave me a strange look.
The food? Good value and quite tasty. Hmm… toasty smells from the pizza oven wafted through the dining room. M ordered a starter of queen scallops, served with chickpeas in a chili tomato sauce, with very sweet roasted cherry toms. Tasty. I had “canneloni” of bresoala stuffed with goat’s cheese and chives serve with rocket and a squeeze of lemon. Nothing to write home about. The highlight were definately mains - my pizza was piping hot, thin crisp crust, simple toppings, and HUGE, while M had some nice simple ricotta and spinach ravioli. House wine was very drinkable, and they have a good range catering to every budget. Service was quite quick, considering how busy it was. Trying to get some tap water proved an ordeal, and M threatened to get a bottle of water out of her bottomless handbag. Order a bottle of water, however, and hey presto! I guess they were just busy…
Desserts were slightly disappointing. I had hoped for some Cafe Affogato - vanilla or bitter choc gelato with a shot of espresso tipped over it. Next time I’ll order the necessary mise en place and do the affogato-ing myself. Instead there was lots of gelato, and various disembowelled fruits filled with sorbet or more gelato. Oh and tiramisu and some type of icecream dessert rolled in wotsits and then covered in hoohahs. Whatever. The Tiramisu looked bought-in, the sponge layers too perfect, with little flavour, just a mouthful of sweet fluffy goo dusted with cocoa. No coffee hit, no rich marsala-flavoured zabaglione, no rich mascarpone. Call me fussy, but I do like my desserts… They did offer Vin Santo with Cantuccini - but M was feeling tired (happily stuffed with good food), so we made moves…
San Marco as a whole, however comes highly recommended and we will definitely return. Just remember the pizzas are large enough for sharing, and don’t sit under that amazing chandelier…