Matt Tucny
We visited Pulia recently (August 23) as a party of 6 (including children). We really enjoyed our meal and the food! It was beautiful, delicious and well presented from starter through to dessert. Whilst the sweet choice first appeared limited, out food was excellent and we all loved it! We will definitely visit again when we’re next in the area and hope the restaurant prospers. Well done Pulia and thank you!
Mike Morgan
This little gem is situated close to the Golden Hind. I came on a hot summers day to find an oasis of calm down for very reasonable set menu for lunch from retropectoral bean soup, and had a selection of Italian cheeses for dessert, along with a glass of pepper and a double espresso Place has a wonderful vibe. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and the food was a real joy.
Alexander Fumaneri
Passed by by accident and decided to stop for lunch, it was a great surprise. Great ambience, great staff and great food. You can really feel the ingredients are of the best quality, and you can see the amount of detail overall in the preparation of the food. Exactly like eating in the best restaurants of Italy. Our waiter Marina was amazing, as well as her manager, great friendly and pleasant service. Will definitely be back.
Charly Meehan
A great experience: so glad this neighbourhood gem has re-opened. Great service, beautiful decor, attentive and well-informed service. My only regret was not ordering the octopus! (The pasta was very good, though, and the portions very generous)
My only constructive feedback would be that the music could be a little quieter please (it was way better than most noisy places and more than possible to chat but would have been harder nearer the speakers, speaking has someone with lived experience of dining with family & friends with hearing and some neurodivergences).
Steve Hanley
All 4 of us decided on the Lunchtime menu, we all had starters and main course. We doubled up on a couple of dishes but between us had 3 different on each course. Food was glorious and service was very good. Nearly forgot to mention the wine, a bottle of red and a bottle of white, what more do you need to round off a great meal.
Danilo Platania
Great restaurant. Very nice environment, great staff, from beginning to end. The food brought me back to a little holiday to Italy.
Recommended to everyone who enjoys Italian food.
Don't miss it.
Samantha Mitchell
This new Italian restaurant is an absolute gem! The food, the service, the facilities were all top notch. It's totally accessible for disabled patrons as the entire premise is on the ground floor. It's located near Shakespeare's Globe theatre, the Golden Hind & Borough market. The head waiter, Alex, was a complete gentleman, always making sure we were happy and satisfied with our meals (we most certainly were!) The seats are very comfortable, and the prices are quite reasonable; they currently have a special lunch offer of 2 courses for £16. We truly recommend this lovely Italian restaurant to everyone.
Rob Phippen
What a lovely place! Friendly, relaxed, and really excellent food.
The fabulous Marina helped guide us to some excellent choices from the menu. I especially enjoyed a creamy anchovy pasta dish.
We're pretty regularly in this part of town: we'll be back to Pulia for sure.
Marina Camillozzi
A lovely place to have a lunch or a dinner on Borough Market. The autentique Italian food from Puglia. You should try the octopus, the truffle burata, and the zampina.
Michelle Kay
Cosy atmosphere, friendly service, and great food. Had the foccacia, agnolotti, polpette, and polpo with the house wine, closed with tortina and pasticciotto. Everything was splendid - will be back to try other food on the menu ✨🍝
Michael Richold
Excellent dining experience from aperitif and appetizers to coffee and desserts. The beef stew (my dish) was magnificent and the homemade pasta (my spouse’s) was cooked perfectly. The entire staff were friendly and on-point and the atmosphere was inviting and warm.
Thuy Nguyen
Very nice and authentic Italian food. This place is behind borough market and can be easily missed off the beaten track.
Has a very clean and warm feel to it. Staff were attentive and service was good. I tried the gnocchi and it was delicious.
Tabby Duenger
Lovely little restaurant near Borough Market. The staff are attentive and the low lighting and pretty decorations create a nice atmosphere.
The ragu pasta was fresh with a lovely rich sauce, and the wines from Puglia were also very good. I'd recommend this for a date night or catch up with a friend!
Rachel Walker
We booked lunch for a large group of friends, some with small children. The staff were absoluely wonderful - very helpful with the all our questions ahead of the day. On the day, the long table was beautifully laid, and we had a lovely relaxed lunch. Everyone enjoyed their food, and the staff could not have been nicer. Great wine too! Happy to highly reccomend Pulia at Stoney Street.
Silver Tinkle
Recently visited the Ivy in Marylebone. We were greeted by a host and hostess who were so welcoming. Our waitress and waiter were excellent, very friendly and made excellent recommendations about the food.
Miro Loves
A very good place with delicious food and nice filling platters. The ambiance is nice and the decor is lovely, the prices are reasonable and the service is prompt and punctual as well.
Modyfoody
Absolutely great place where one can indulge in awesome food and drinks at reasonable prices, optimal hygienic conditions , with the help of a very dedicated and professional staff and punctual service.
Ashna Nain
I ordered coffee, focaccia and a pizza and I really liked it. The ambience of the place is comforting and authentic and the staff was very helpful. I enjoyed visiting the cafe and having my food whilst reading my book, it's exactly what i often look for when I'm looking forward to spending time with myself.<br/>Great experience!
Prince
In last days I visited this restaurant with my friend. We were maximally satisfied actually with everything. Very nice environment, properly tidied, polite and very friendly staff, delicious food and nicely served drinks. We can strongly recommend..!<br/>Especially thanks to management for good food and very good service!
Iule
This is my sister's italian breckfast spot, so we went there everyday during my holiday. The cappuccino and the latte macchiato is great, and their brioche are delicious as well.
Alison Hackett
Very disappointed with our visit. I ordered a plain crossient with butter and jam. I was given an almond one with no explanation as to why ( just as well I didn't have a nut allergy) . When I did ask I was then informed there was no plain ones left. I sent the almond one back. So.i just had a coffee. My husband ordered the scrambled eggs with spinach and tomato. He said it was the worst scrambled eggs he had ever had(£8.95)<br/>We are not fussy people but just fancied a nice breakfast in what was a very nice looking establishment. <br/>Would not recommend . Sorry .
Miso Hungry
Pulia with an invisible 'g' was sadly a let down. I chose the restaurant because of the stellar reviews on both this site and Google but it would appear I don't share the same opinion as most of the 5 star reviewers who have only ever reviewed one restaurant in their life.<br/><br/>The interior was open, airy, nicely lit and had an array of ingredients available to purchase so was happy with the comfortable setting. The menu was limited which is normally a good thing but nothing really leaped out at me so found it a struggle. In the end we started with some Apulian olives and opted for Orecchiette with "burrata hearts" and a Parmigiana for main. Guess we should have ordered more food but we were on a bit of a time restraint to get to a concert in Globe Theatre. At the prices charged I did seriously think we were going to be full though.<br/><br/>The olives looked great from a distance... big and bright green, but they tasted raw and lacked flavour. More time required ripening perhaps? The parmigiana was the highlight, just wish there was a bit more of it. Miso underwhelmed.
Triska
This is a beautifully decorated restaurant and deli. Went pretty late on a Sunday and had the burratta with aubergine and courgette. I'd heard a great deal about the burratta here and expected something spectacular. However, it was a tad on the dry side and at almost £14, it was a huge let down. I would visit again, but perhaps only for coffee and a pastry. Service was impeccable.
Elle Bloggs
CHEESUS-FLIPPING-CHRIST - I'd say that's a fairly appropriate way to introduce my experience trying out the recently launched brunch at Pulia. Open since early last year, Pulia is nestled away in the shadows of the foodie haven that is Borough Market. I'd seen several people championing Pulia for having the 'best burrata in London' so when I got the email inviting me down to try their brunch menu, I knew I had to hot-step it there.
Got To Be Gourmet
Last summer I visited a restaurant in Borough Market that has remained at the top of my ‘must return’ list (you can read my previous write-up here). But the months flew by and I realised I hadn’t been back yet when I was invited back to try out their new brunch menu. I literally couldn’t wait!
Lauren Hudson
There are some restaurants that after you've tried them it's actually criminal not to return: the food is so good, the service is top notch and it's a fabulous setting for day or night. Pulia, an unassuming restaurant and deli just next to Borough Market, is one of these gems. I promise you, once you've been once you're going to go again and again.
Jéssica Ribeiro
We have met this lovely restaurant in our first day in London, we were looking for a nice place to dinner and we found this one.<br/><br/>We order 2 pastas (they are fresh and so mouthwatering)and 2 ace juices, the food is delicious, the owners are so friendly and they remembered us when we came for the second time :)<br/>The decoration is simple and has a good atmosphere, it brings me to Italy!<br/><br/>Pulia you have 2 portuguese fans, we will visit you when we return again to London. :)
Lisa B
I have to say, I can't stop raving about this place.<br/><br/>The food is absolutely to die for. The flavours are just perfect!<br/><br/>I started off with the charcuterie board which was the selection of ham and cheeses. Such good value for what you get! The burrata is so fresh, the ham's are beautiful. <br/><br/>We then ordered some of the Panzerotto di Zia Marisa ( Fried Calzone) with tomato and mozzarella which were so yummy.<br/><br/>Pizza Rustica with tuna, courgettes and mozzarella- Try this! it is so delicious!!!!<br/><br/>Then my favourite which I cannot stop craving about- Pasta with cherry tomatoes, basil and cacioricotta( hard ricotta). The flavour of this was to die for. So simple but with the fresh pasta and fresh produce, it is just delicious!!! <br/><br/>I highly recommend trying Pulia out as their wines are also delicious. Great place to catch up with friends and share a few bits!<br/><br/>Definitely, one of my favourite places in London right now!
Niamh
Made a reservation by phone for dinner on 25th Nov, which was confirmed. Despite giving my tel number with my name, as well as the number & reservation details being read back to me on the phone, when I arrived I was told the restaurant was closed for a private function and they claimed not to know of the reservation.<br/>Extremely disappointing & appalling customer service.
Pasta Bites
Pulia is a newcomer to the London scene, having opened their first site outside of Italy only a few months ago in one of the capital’s main food hotspots, Borough Market. I had walked past one day with Amber and always meant to come back to try their offering. The occasion presented itself when, via Twitter, I was invited over for a sunday lunch after missing out on a bloggers’ evening while on holiday. I must admit, at that point I wasn’t sure what to make of what felt a bit like a random invite, and turned up one hot mid summer sunday afternoon in my not so best sunday clothes, dog and friend in tow. When I arrived, Pulia’s owners and staff welcomed us (all, yes) inside, where a few other bloggers (including Michael from MindingBelliesWell) were sipping an aperitif and introduced themselves and Pulia to us.
Vi Vian Woo
Pulia, London Bridge – if you are still feeling the blues after your summer holidays in Italy, Pulia brings you some of the very finest local food and produce. So, maybe here at London Bridge you can feel the nostalgia from the memories of food in Italy.<br/><br/>Pulia is a mini international Italian chain which has other branches in Venice, Turin, Florence and New York. The interior of Pulia is very smartly finished with bright lighting - perfect for food photography but more like it is mimicking the bright sunlight feel that one would get in Italy. One corner of the wall is modelled resembling the rustic features of an Italian casa ie olive oil bottles, dried rosemary hung to dry and tomatoes sewn to strings for drying. But these are only mock-ups. There is a choice of a long communal table, bar type dining, few smaller tables and a snuggle corner to enjoy coffees, teas and sweet and savoury deli bakes. The cafe has a very family oriented ambience. <br/><br/>A small selection of Italian meat and cheeses (average of £10.00), warming and cheesy pastas (average of £8.00), oven baked meat (average of £12.00) and desserts (under £5.00) with wines from £4.75. Takeaways or eat-in are both available. Pulia also sells a few items for the store cupboard such as olive oils, pastas, wines, pate and their very proud tuna in oil. <br/><br/>Italian food is undeniably popular. So, we had to have a small feast, the Italian way, even if cheeses were not my thing. <br/><br/>mixed charcuterie £12.50 – selection of hams and cheeses from Puglia<br/><br/>pasta of the day £9.60 – the quality of pasta was very good. Has the mouth-feel texture and bouncyness to it. <br/><br/>spinach with fave £8.00<br/><br/>A friendly enough service but their engagement felt like they were desperately trying to sell me their produce. It was a fulfilling light lunch and I had been given a voucher from Zomato as part of this meal.
Alice Gee
Great experience at Pulia, a restaurant cum deli near Borough Market. Lovely food and great value.<br/><br/>To start a complimentary serving of pitted black olives in good oil and taralli (a sort of olive oil flavored local pretzel) was brought to the table. Our server really encouraged us to order the burrata, which he claimed to be the best in London. A huge portion bigger than my fist with lots of creamy heart for £8. This came with a salad of cherry tomatoes and mixed leaves. Salad was great as there were at least 5 different types of leaves, including rocket, nasturtium and basil.<br/><br/>Next was our second starter of the small charcuterie board for £12. This consisted of some raw ham, mortadella, three types of cheeses, some cherry tomatoes on the vine and the thoughtful variety of mixed leaves. Served with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The balsamic only had two ingredients (as it should) of vinegar and wine musts, though musts were listed as the second ingredient, not the first. I think the best balsamicos have wine musts listed as the most plentiful ingredient.<br/><br/>The mains are really keenly priced between £7-£10, but do not come with sides. The two of us were greedy and tried two pastas as well as the braciola. We were disappointed that the gnocchi was sold out, so had freshly made orrechiette with a simple cherry tomato sauce and freshly made spirals with a sauce of pureed aubergine with slivers of courgette. Both pastas were very al dente, which surprised me, as fresh pasta is often too soft for my taste. The fresh cherry tomato sauce tasted of the deep south, as it was slightly sweet. Be warned that the tomato skins had not been removed. I don't mind the skins personally, but some people do. The subtle aubergine sauce on the spirals was probably my favorite. I liked the attention to detail in that different cheeses garnished different sauces. The tomato sauce came dressed with gratings of canestrato, a hard cheese (similar to Pecorino but local to Puglia) whereas the aubergine sauce was dressed with soft burrata heart.<br/><br/>Besides our vegetarian pastas we tried a meaty main of braciola. Slivers of veal wrapped around pork and cheese. Pork filling was a little on the dry side, but it came with plenty of rich, meaty tasting tomato sauce to lubricate it.<br/><br/>I used a voucher kindly proviided by Zomato, so we might have gotten a little special attention because of that. I do think in general the service was highly professional. Despite the informal style of service, we got new cutlery between starters and mains. Also when we decided to keep our menu for perusal after ordering, several members of staff noticed we still had a menu at our table, and checked if we needed to order.
Sammijoknows
Pulia, in London Bridge, is the first UK venture for the Italian brand offering food and wine, artisan products and a sexy collection of Olive Oils. <br/><br/>Just on a side street of Borough Market, is the clean, airy and bright shop, come cafe, come wine bar, come deli etc. During the day, you can grab something to go, eat in, or buy a selection of their meats and cheeses to do-it-yourself. In the evening, if you don't mind communal dining, you can get cosy with your other half and enjoy simplistic Apulian cuisine. <br/><br/>My friend and I opted for an early evening visit, and were greeted with a quiet space - which is not necessarily a bad thing. I suspect during the day it is busier with office types and visitors to Borough Market. The sit down menu is short and sweet. A selection of starters, two pasta's and some mains. There is a good mix of salads though, for those who like to keep it light. <br/><br/>To start, we opted for "Pate" and Burrata Heart with crostini. Now when you think of pate, you think of meat/fish smoothed into a terrine. Not here, essentially, it is one of their tapenades, which they also sell by the jar. We went for "Pate" of spicy red pepper. The Burrata heart was served smooth, almost like a thick paste which was excellent, as the serve is to have the crostini, add some "pate", then this milky, creamy yummy Italian cheese. I love Burrata, and the best I have had so far is still from Amici Miei. <br/><br/>For main course, we had the Veal Meat rolls filled with pork and cheese in a rich tomato sauce and I had the orecchiette with cherry tomato, basic and cheese. Whilst my companion felt the Veal was a little tough, I liked the taste I had. The pasta was not something that you could get wrong, it was al dente the way I like it served. The Veal was partnered with Casonte, a fresh fruit red and my pasta was partnered with Bombino, supple and dry with apple hints like I like it. <br/><br/>As we are patient diners and were up for trying something new, the language barrier for our original waitress was not a huge issue. I would however, say that those in a hurry or less accommodating may find this an issue. There is an expectation that as this is a specialist venue for a particular region, your staff should be able to talk about it and its products confidently. This was not the case to start off with, but the Supervisor (I am assuming), took over and brought it home. <br/><br/>Pulia is great for shopping for artisanal products from Puglia. This place is like an upmarket Carluccio's, as long as it doesn't start to appear every square mile and keeps its authentic standards if it should open another one or two.
Jaklien
If I had to choose between all the cuisines of the world, I would definitely go for Italian food.So when Zomato asked me to review Pulia at Borough Market, I didn't need to think twice. Pulia is an Italian deli with a couple of sites across Italy and it opened its first deli here in London on Stoney Street in Borough Market last February. They specialise in food from the Puglia region (hence the name) and all the ingredients and base materials are carefully selected from local producers.
Hannah Kacary | That Adventurer
It may not be often that food is likened to religion, politics or sex but I’m about to do just that. You see, the thing is, people get as crazy passionate about food as they do religion, politics and sex. The difference being that I’ve heard fewer people argue about food unless, of course, it’s about who gets the last slice of mozzarella…<br/><br/>The food at Pulia is what Italian food should be. It’s not cheap plates of pasta and pizza, but beautifully crafted combinations of flavours put together by an Italian family. The mama from Puglia, the region from which Pulia takes it’s inspiration (and ingredients), shapes the fresh pasta dough into it’s required shapes and her children help serve customers in the bright and airy restaurant
Connie Consumes
If you’ve had the pleasure (modest much?) of talking to me in the last month, you would have also had the misfortune of hearing me whinge about being stuck. Stuck in London while everyone else seem to be jet setting off on exciting city breaks or relaxing beach holidays. Stuck without any exciting plans of our own and not even being to make any as we don’t know when we’ll be able to leave the country again. Being stuck kid of sucks. For those of you who don’t know, we’ve handed our passports over to the Home Office, hoping, begging, praying that’ll they give me a new visa, letting me stay past my current ‘get out of Britain’ date of early December.
Vicky Dalton-Banks
I have a lot of love for Italy. Obviously it is a beautiful country, but it is the food that steals my heart. I have always dreamt of spending a summer there filled with cookery courses and a food tour from top to bottom. I was recently invited to another great Zomato Meetup at Pulia on Stoney Street. I always look forward to these meetups as its an evening filled with lots of food (obviously) and great people who also share my love for all the food. It’s always good to catch up with friends and new faces.
Federica De Dominicis
I've been given the opportunity to try Pulia by the sweet Sheepa Miah and I enjoyed every single moment there (Thank you so, so much 😊)!! I went with one of my partner in food crime on a lovely sunny and bright summer day and have been brought back in the south of Italy the moment I stepped in. Cheerful and smiley staff, white everywhere, from the walls to the tables, and the colours of the region in every dish on display, I felt like I was back on holiday with my family. We overindulged, tempted along the way by our lovely host, and have been giving a try to a mix of starters, loved the burrata with olive oil and the panzerotti, the fave and chikory, the parmigiana, still mouthwatering at the thought of it, and the caponata. All washed down with a glass of red wine, knowledgeably suggested among a wide selection. I have to go back to try the pasta I couldn't fit in my "begging for forgivness" belly and the desserts!! It's still summer, I see me go down there to re-enjoy the experience really, really soon, who's coming?
Amy
Last week I got to go to my first ever Zomato Meetup at the brilliant Pulia in London Bridge. It was such a great way to meet new bloggers and try some delicious food. I can't decide which I enjoyed more!. Georges, the owner, was our host for the evening. He was so passionate about his food and ensured everything was fresh from Italy, including this incredible burrata cheese, which had been flown in that morning. It was so creamy and yet still really light - which meant I could eat twice as much! The accompanying foccacia was equally delicious, and I had to hold myself back from stealing the last slice.
Anne
I was lucky enough to be invited to join a Zomato Meetup at Pulia where the incredibly passionate owner, Georges and his warm and welcoming girlfriend, Sarah led us on a culinary journey through the region of Puglia. Pulia is located near London’s Borough Market, the perfect location for a restaurant that is born from a genuine love for good food and a desire to share this love with everyone.
Got To Be Gourmet
Italy is one of my favourite countries in the world and holds a lot of special memories for me. I spent my 21st birthday in Rome, thanks to an incredible surprise birthday present from my parents. Florence is where Tim got down on one knee and popped the question! And we’ve had incredible holidays along the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento, Amalfi and Positano). Venice, Lake Garda and Tuscany are still on list. But after last week, I’ve had to add another place to that list – Puglia.
Maria Kuehn
Martin Scorsese once said that 'If your mother cooks Italian food, why bother going to a restaurant.' Whilst I entirely understand this sentiment in many ways, stepping into the romantic and warm setting of Pulia feels as though mama would allow herself to be taken from the kitchen and plonked firmly into the midst of this jewel of a place, located a stone's throw away from Borough Market in South East London.<br/>Let's get something straight. I'm appalled at the vast majority of 'Italian' eateries in the UK. Over priced and mediocre at best, they have little in common with the true heart of Italian cooking. In fact, up until now, Il Cibo in Holland Park is the only restaurant in my opinion that truly represents the distinctive spirit of Italy.<br/>As soon as I entered Pulia, however, my eyes irrepressibly darted around this Aladdin's cave of goodies, drinking in the beautifully presented fare in every corner of a most enchanting setting.<br/>A warm greeting from the owner Georges and my fellow Zomato writers was followed by a glass of Bombino, a very lightly sparkling, dry, crisp and fresh wine that made for the perfect aperitif.<br/>Georges then led me around and explained what was at the heart of Pulia. It's a simple philosophy; all the produce is brought in exclusively from the region of Puglia in Southern Italy. The branded products are made by the best local suppliers of wine, olive oil, pates, pasta, sauces, cheese and cured meats.<br/>Tour over, our gastronomic journey began and for the next hour (and I think I can speak for everyone) we were plunged headlong into a seriously sumptuous feast of such quality I was almost speechless.<br/>The red wine that accompanied the charcuterie and cheese plates was just stunning. A blend of Primitovo and Aglianico grapes, it was a full bodied wine that slipped down silkily and had a faint note of raspberries that was just sensational.<br/>The array of dishes that were put before us were no happy accident. Weeks of travelling all over Puglia to seek out the best suppliers (can I have that job please?) and create the best partnerships were clear for all to see. The creamiest burrata and scamorza cheeses, the perfect salty and soft, cured meats, heavenly breads, the silky olive oils, the dreamy wines, the ambrosial deserts, everything was an utter joy to eat.<br/>I stopped for a minute to look at my fellow diners. It must have been joyful for Georges and Sarah, his most charming partner with whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to, to witness the glow of happiness and contentedness on our faces. Then again, I'm pretty sure that it's a sight they're getting used to. I applaud you whole heartedly Pulia. Long may you reign.<br/><br/>Pulia<br/>36 Stoney Street<br/>London<br/>SE1 9LB<br/>0207 407 8766<br/>pulia.com<br/>FB Pulia<br/>Twitter @Puliauk
KS_Ate_Here
Puglia, also known as Apulia, is the district located in the south of Italy known as the "heel of the boot" where key locally produced ingredients such as olive oil, artichokes, tomatoes, and mushrooms reign supreme. The local cuisine is as rich as the region's history but before you go and book that next Ryan Air flight to find out yourself, hop on a tube and get to Pulia first. <br/><br/>Located just behind London's iconic Borough Market on Stoney St, Pulia pays homage to the very best of the region through a carefully selected, thoughtful menu utilising a variety of raw materials imported directly from Puglia itself. <br/><br/>This was no more evident than during starters of a mixed charcuterie & cheese board and a portion of fresh burrata with tomatoes & olives where we were delighted with a beautiful selection of rich cheese and a slow-cook certified capocollo that provides a delicious salty contrast that will knock your socks off. But above all, it's all about the burrata; oh lord that burrata. Imported directly from Puglia with a shop lifespan never longer than 3 days, it is everything that a burrata should be; silky smooth texture that rolls off the tongue with a subtle flavour that's so supremely creamy. This must surely rank as one of the best in London and I couldn't recommend it enough. <br/><br/>Follow up acts though were not to be forgotten with mains of orecchiette with organic aubergine, olive sauce, burrata & rocket and orecchiette with basil, tomato & ricotta forte, perfect in their simplicity, were delicious and respectfully authentic. <br/><br/>We finished with bites of pasticciotto; a traditional Puglian cake that resembled madeleines; which was about all we could manage. The hazelnut cream number was a delight but it is the mandarin served with an insane mandarin olive oil that is the absolute can't miss. The cake on its own is ok but the olive oil adds an amazing fragrant richness that elevates it to the next level. A real treat. <br/><br/>For those with a taste for authentic, traditional Italian dishes, this is for you. Dine in then buy some goods to cook at home from their shop full of imported products straight from Puglia. Enjoy!<br/><br/><br/><br/>Also follow me on Twitter @annixontong and @wetrykai and on Instagram @annixontong.
Iris
Pulia opened on Friday 11 March; I happened to stop by with a couple of friends on Saturday 12th, while on the hunt for a Borough Market lunch I'd never tried, and didn't have to queue half an hour for. With one of said friends I share the love of food, and five years' worth of high school memories, including the odd meal out after class. Our favourite lunch break spot was a takeaway shop serving food from Puglia, tucked away in a residential street, never half as crowded as it would have deserved. When I told my friend that a new deli inspired to Puglia's culinary traditions had just opened in Borough Market, I had little doubt she'd be interested.<br/><br/>Our local Pugliese deli used to serve massive, oil-laden slabs of vegetarian focaccia and enormous panzerotti (fried dough patties filled with cheese and cured meats or vegetables), at prices so student-friendly we could go for seconds and thirds every time we fancied (read: always). At Pulia, a small slice of typical Barese focaccia costs over £3; that's the cheapest nibble you can hope to get, in a portion your not-so-stereotypical overfeeding Italian grandmother would most likely not approve of. Expect to be hungry for more after one serving; you'll have to part with at least three or four more pounds for another smallish savoury snack or dessert - but boy, isn't that focaccia good. Scrap that, actually: it's just great. The smoked wheat slice with roasted tomatoes and mozzarella is as fulfillingly packed with flavour as pizza - only crunchier and naughtier, as it's made with fried dough. It's money well spent, especially if you're craving a taste of Italy you only ever get when you're home for a holiday (if you're not Italian, that's even better, as you'll have no recollection of having this food in portions twice as big and for half the price. Expat life, yay). The cafe counter also offers panzerotti (looking tempting, but alas, too tiny to compete with the ones in my memories) and other savoury oven baked products; desserts range from the usual croissants and pastries, to typical Pugliese pasticciotto (sweet pastry with jam or cream filling). You can have these with a hot drink, if you're there for breakfast or a snack; judging by the quality of the food, I suspect the coffee will taste pretty authentic too. Note to self: come back and try.<br/><br/>As well as serving freshly made food, Pulia sells a range of Southern Italian cooking ingredients, cured meats, wines, oils and dairy products. Again, they're on the expensive side, but if you know you way around specialty Italian stores and market stalls in London, that won't come as a surprise. You may not be able to afford imported mozzarella and burrata or smoky scamorza on a regular basis, but you should try them at least once when you feel in for a treat, or have specific recipes that require them in mind. You'll have a hard time going back to supermarket stuff again - when you're so lucky to find this stuff at your local supermarket, that is. On the other hand, you won't have a hard time going back to Pulia: there's too much to try to stick to a one-off visit, and its bright, comfortably spacious eating area makes for a refreshing break from the overwhelming Saturday market crowds.
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