De Palo’s

Food: was authentic Italian. The pasta and ingredients were very fresh and cooked to perfection. We were brought out complimentary bread and olive oil. My colleagues had the special starter which was cold soup, of the asparagus and courgette variety, which they loved and described as ‘fresh’.
For my main I had the Linguine with crab. courgette and white wine sauce. However my food was pretty bland. I added salt, pepper, parmesan & chilli oil to my main dish… usually I only add a dash of pepper. The flavours were delicate and the food was not heavy, unlike other pasta dishes that can be. There was no creamy sauce, just fresh pasta and a good portion of courgette and I think butternut squash also. The portion size was good, presentation was lovely and the dish had a good garnish. The menu is not vast but gives a good range of choices, including a few vegetarian options. The special of the day was a Mediterranean summer pasta salad, which sent my colleague into a trance of deliciousness!
For dessert we had the tiramasu, with a rasberry sauce. It was very strong chocolate tasting and I was only able to manage a few bites. Sharing is the best thing to do with the dessert!
Service: The chef was Sicilian and the waiters are also Italian. They were attentive and refilled our water glasses when required without asking. There’s no obligatory tip or service charge.
Atmosphere: There was a mix of people, some office workers and also a few couples. It was very casual with lots of lulling chatter. The restaurant is tucked away behind a side street by St Paul’s and Fleet Street. I recommend booking a table in advance if you want to guarantee a seating area as the place is fairly small but still spacious.
Décor: There are several skylights letting in au naturale light and also dim lighting creating a pleasant mood.
Value for money: Very good value for money! Main dishes start at about £9 or so. Dessert is £5, starters range between £5−8.
If I’m completely honest I’d give this place a 3.5 — purely because the food was good but I expected it to be better.