Obicà Mozzarella Bar

Slightly hidden around a corner from the iconic St Pauls Cathedral, Mozzarella Bar Obicà serves Italian cuisine to a high standard. While the decor of the restaurant definitely feels like London – sleek, dark and elegant – the dishes will transport you right to the sunny Amalfi coast of Italy. 

The menu is comprised of a blend of tradition and innovation: pizza and pasta along with sharing platters and a few meat dishes are the main players, yet next to classic options such as pasta with pesto stand refreshing options such as the Ravioli Freschi, which are filled with ricotta di bufala and black kale. The drink menu is equally structured and so one can find ordinary as well as special cocktails, alongside an extensive wine list. 

Despite the temptation that the Antipasti section offered (Bruschette, Parmigiana or Tagliata di Bronzino) we decided to follow the recommendation of a variety of small plates to share as a starter. The Carciofini (roasted and marinated artichoke) as well as the Caponata alla Siciliana (an Italian version of ratatouille) were good, but the absolute highlight was the Burrata al Tartufo. The milky ball of burrata was presented on a nest of spinach with a crown of black truffle. In combination with the fresh and warm focaccina, this dish was absolutely to die for, and relatively fairly priced at £11. 

Obicà ingredients are all carefully sourced from Italian producers and the main signature buffalo mozzarella is imported three times a week from a small town near Naples – a factor you can truly taste in the dishes. As a main, we opted for a classic pasta, Paccheri with tomato sauce, and a more experimental pizza topped with porcini mushrooms and casatica di bufala. The pasta was hearty and the sauce truly tasted like it had just been made. It is no wonder that the dishes, and especially the pizza, declare themselves to be “slow food”: one can see and taste the work that has gone into making them. The pizza dough is rested for 48 hours before it is turned into a delicious creation such as the one we tried. But while the pizza was thus quite exceptional, especially in flavour, it could still not quite reach the taste sensation of the burrata we started with.

Obicà is an impressive concept overall and a great place for anyone looking for Italian cuisine par excellence.

Luisa Kapp

★★★★★

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To book a table at Obicà, 5-7 Limeburner Lane London EC4M 7AX, call 020 3327 0984 or visit here.