Caterina 55 brings the home-made taste of Italian Ligurian cooking to Moorgate, London. A generations-old cafe from that region has been brought bang up-to-date in a fast food format with some nice touches like beer on tap, pH balanced water for a true Italian coffee and healthy cakes on display under the glass counter.
Caterina 55 – Italian for express
It’s quite a swanky joint – brightly lit with a welcoming service counter that wouldn’t look out-of-place in an international airport – glamorous and functional.
Don’t get it confused with the additive-laden, sour-sweet fast food we’ve been eating in burger joints. You’ll get your umami hit here from parmesan not MSG. They’ve taken the fast food model, upped it and reasonably called it Italian express food.
your next meal is leaving at counter one
It’s an all-day drinking and dining destination with comfortable and varied seating areas, Birra Moretti on tap, a simple selection of good red and white wines, San Pelegrino sparkling fruit juices, free Wi-Fi and take-away and delivery services for the local offices and sky-high flats nearby.
For me it’s the Diavolo Burger (£6.25) which is the stand out hit. It’s bursting with flavour, layered with fresh meat (not frozen) intense pesto softened by home-made mayonnaise in a soft seeded bun. Perfecto!
the heavenly diavolo burger
They’ve even got the chickpea burger (£5.50) right – nice and crispy on the patty and then soft and flavoursome inside.
chick chick pea
It’s easy Italian with a natural taste – the tomato ketchup doesn’t have that sharp sachet taste.
Other delights from the menu are the chicken nuggets – sorry, home-made balls – twice ground for smoothness and given a dash of cumin.
goodness gracious
bean soup just like mamma used to make it!
Keeping with healthy feel, the hearty soups are made with home-made stocks – it’s got that sheen you only get from cooking from scratch and seasonal vegetables are good and tasty.
lasagne – classic and pesto
Additionally, for those looking for a glass of wine or a traditional Italian beer with a more substantial evening meal, kick back, relax and enjoy some home-made pasta such as pesto lasagne – vegetarian lasagne, made with green beans, oozing bechamel sauce and homemade pesto (£5.90) There are plans for an evening feel with a separate bar area and more formal place settings with crockery and napkins.
buon appetito!
Address: The Heron, 5 Moor Lane, London EC2Y 9AP
Opening Times:
Monday- Friday 7 am -10.30, Saturday 9am – 10.30, Sunday 9am – 9.30pm
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