Princi
135 Wardour Street,
London, W1F 0UT
You might have noticed a coffee and pudding bias to my suggestions, and you'd be right to say that I probably eat too much dessert, but I really can't go a day without it. So I need to have options, right? This is by far the best option. Anyone who has spent any time with me will know how much I love cannoli. It's a problem. I'm an addict. I could eat it daily. Whoever thought of frying pastry and filling it with sweetened cheese was an absolute genius. And Princi does the best cannoli.
Princi is in no way discreet. Shiny, busy, and oh-so trendy, it spans a long frontage in Wardour Street, right in the epicentre of most of my favourite dining options. So it is my go-to after-dinner stop, where I load up on cannoli, tiramisu, madeleines, and espresso. The cannoli are enormous - and they should be, at £4+ each - and studded with candied orange. Frequented by media types and, supposedly, the trendy Italian set, it's near-impossible to find a spot to sit, but the stony monoliths dotted around the place act as standing tables. There's a water fountain built into the wall. There's a bouncer/security man who will vaguely chat to you and then find you a table. It's like being some exclusive nightclub, with pastry.
Part of the draw to Princi is their wood-oven. They do woodfired pizzas and artisanal breads, as well as pastas, salads, and pastries. Supposedly they open at 7 a.m. and serve breakfast, but I've never been here before 7 at night. They're open late and are invariably packed on weeknights when people finish work.
And for somewhere so busy, the service is pretty decent. There are loads of Italian men working behind the counter, topping pizzas in the back or making espressos at the bar. I've occasionally thought there must be some kind of unspoken code with regards to hiring, if I'm honest, as everything in this busy little place - from pastries to people - is very pleasing on the eye. Not that that's relevant, but when I'm in a bit of a mood and trek into Soho just for cannoli, the charming smile of the man handing me my espresso certainly lightens things up a bit. Lots of reasons for dessert, you see.
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