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Caminata

Italian, Pizza·
££££
·

SquareMeal Review of Caminata

Why is this pizza & pasta joint likely to be packed, even on a miserable rainy evening when every other restaurant in the neighbourhood wonders why it bothered to open? Perhaps it’s the warm, welcoming fug emanating from Caminata’s doorway. More likely, though, is the fact that the cooking is good, it’s cheap, & the staff are friendly. There’s a refreshing familiarity to the menu. Start with bruschettas, prawns sautéed in garlic, or sausage with mixed peppers, before moving on to ‘top’ pizzas, generously covered, crispy & thin. For the few diners who can’t be tempted by these delectable discs, there’s a reasonable selection of risottos, pastas & the usual array of main courses. Booking advisable, even on sunny summer evenings.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Italian, Pizza
Food Hygiene Rating

Caminata is featured in

Location

96 Bedford Hill, Balham, London, SW12 9HR

020 8772 0701 020 8772 0701

Website

Opening Times

Mon-Sun 5-11pm (Sat-Sun 10am- )

Reviews

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7 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Peter H

18 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 3.5
Value 3.5

For the price one of the best neighbourhood Italians in London. Really great staff. Never fails

 

Jane Z

14 December 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4

Noisy, crowded. Very nice friendly staff. Pricewise, par for the course. A more interesting menu than many small Italien restaurants

Tayyab R

08 September 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4

Great place to eat and lovely service too - highly recommended!

Sally J

01 May 2022   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Superb

Fantastic service and atmosphere and staff so welcoming!   The food is superb and I'm very fussy.  Camanata is our regular Italian restaurant in Balham - it never lets you down - always a fabulous experience - highly recommended.  

anna N

08 July 2013  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
great food and really good service
I have been visting Caminata for quite a while already as i am local.Find this place really good with professional service and great food.It definitely worth it going there.I really enjoy their stone baked pizzas ,pasta and delicious risotto !Strongly recommended!

Irene L

21 June 2013  
Food & Drink 4.5
Service 4
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4.5
Great little restaurant
I often go there with friends, we find the place very welcoming and the staff are bunch of nice people. The food is great and always fresh, because the place is busy all the time I suppose. I think little restaurants like this are a lot better than the big chains where you will never feel at home. I would definitely recommend it.

Victoria I

04 September 2011  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 4
Value 5
My favourite local in Balham. Within weeks of moving into the area we knew all the staff – I've even left my house keys there for friends to collect with the gorgeous owner Ellie – a fabulous host, and it's the reason I often end up overdrawn every month. It's open everyday (except Mondays) and we've gone in there on hungover Sundays for a lovely fry up, with amazing coffee and all the newspapers, cheeky cocktails after work on a Thursday and dined in there regularly. Part of the main attraction is you can just grab a table for beers and not dine and you still get the same great service and attention (although we often end up ordering at least a sharing a huge pizza sized brushcetta with parma ham)! Lovely simple pastas and pizzas at very good prices along with other classic Italian mains, I love watching Nadko spin pizza dough in the main bar where they have their wood fire pizza kitchen (he was trained in Lake Garda). They have a small decking area which is perfect for people watching. It has become nigh on impossible to pass Caminata with a friend or housemate without somebody raising their eyebrows… ‘Beer’? ‘Quick bite’? ‘Fancy Dinner’? ‘2 cocktails I promise’… They also do a selection of their great pizzas and pastas to takeaway for £6. I've also seen private parties booking the whole venue and as an independent they can be totally flexible. The constantly changing contemporary artwork on the walls lifts the decor, the loos are great and the staff are always pleased to see you. It's the first place I've truly felt like a local from Cheers. Love it.
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020 8772 0701 020 8772 0701

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