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As anyone who’s ever learned a new language or tried to train themselves to text one handed knows, the older you get, the harder it becomes to master new skills. Old dogs can’t learn new tricks. So if you didn’t learn the butterfly stroke as a kid, the likelihood of you ever figuring out how to coordinate that manic arm swing and dolphin kick is fairly remote. That rule doesn’t always hold though. And Lina Stores, a sit-down restaurant spin-off from the iconic Soho deli of the same name, is proof of that.
This Greek Street pasta bar also has the same ice-cream parlour pastel frontage as the Brewer Street shop where they’ve been selling handmade pasta since 1944. That’s long enough for us to suspect they should be able to cook what they sell by now. And sure enough, everything here is done pretty well - simple but with that bit of flair that makes it feel as if they’ve been running a restaurant forever.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
The pastas here are bound to make you smile. They come in small portions, making this a perfect choice for a quick lunch, or a light post-theatre bite. If you’re not particularly hungry then one will do, but if you’re anything like us, one will certainly not do. The agnolotti with truffle and ricotta, and the pici with mushroom and sausage are both pretty solid and should definitely be on your order, but with prices starting at just £6, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for more on top of these. Some crunchy aubergine polpette, or ’nduja with ricotta from their antipasti selection will round off your meal nicely.
Lina Stores is not a place you’re going to spend hours and hours in. Nor is it going to blow your mind. That’s just not the point here. It’s casual and inexpensive, and the food is solid. Whether you’re at the upstairs counter, or in the slightly more spacious white-washed basement, you’re definitely going to be on the slightly cramped side of cosy. That’s okay though. You don’t have long to spend here anyway. Once you’ve got those pastas down, you’ve got to get back to the pool and finally master your butterfly stroke.
Food Rundown
Bella di Cerignola, Carciofini e Pomodori Secchi
This plate of artichokes, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes is exactly what you need before a pasta heavy main course.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Polpette di Melanzane
Topped with with fresh tomato sauce, these batter fried aubergines make a great starter. They’re crispy and oily, and satisfying without being too heavy.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
’Nduja Con Ricotta
Served with a few slices of plain white bread, these two pastes make a killer spread combo. The ricotta is light and airy, and the ’nduja spicy and meaty.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Agnolotti Verdi Con Ricotta E Tartufo
This is a sexy dish. It’s rich, buttery, and full of flavour. And truffle shavings will have you scraping the enamel off the plate.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Gnudi Con Burro E Salvia
These neat parcels of creamy spinach are dusted with parmesan, and although they might be a little rich, they’re worth going for if you’re going all in on a four-pasta spread.
Pici Alla Norcina
There might not be a better pasta than pici. This version is more udon noodle than spaghetti, and it’s served in a rich porcini mushroom and sausage sauce. You’ll probably want to order a second serving.