London’s growing love affair with Italian-American dining has brought with it a wave of bold, playful, and downright over-the-top restaurants, and Senza Fondo fits right in. This social media sensation has made headlines for its £20 bottomless lasagne deal, quickly becoming one of the city’s most sought-after tables.
Exposed-brick walls are lined with cosy booths and candlelit gingham-clothed tables, setting the scene somewhere between quirky trattoria and East London cool. Framed photos fill every inch of space - Pinterest-worthy prints, cityscapes, family snapshots, and yes, even a shrine to Italian footballer Kevin Lasagna, whose only real relevance is his rather fitting name. It’s oddly charming.
There’s an excited chatter in the air as we sink into our seats, and distinctly Northern friendliness from waiters who zip deftly between tables, arms stacked high with plates of the signature dish. We feel right at home. Here, Negronis are £5 if you order before food (£9.50 after), so we immediately order a round. They’re crisp, punchy, and generous on the booze - exactly how they should be.
When it comes to the food, Senza Fondo doesn’t do things by halves. Stacked plates of pasta are doused in lashings of grated parmesan, as are the pizzettes - as if pizzas aren’t cheesy enough on their own. We start with mozzarella sticks: fat, golden, and oozing with stringy cheese. But the accompanying marinara sauce falls a bit flat and would have been livened up with a bit more seasoning. The pizzettes, however, are a must order. Thick, doughy crusts follow the Neapolitan style, angrily charred from the wood-fired oven, and glistening with pepperoni oil and drizzles of hot honey.
And then there’s the famous lasagne. It arrives in a puddle of bechamel, stacked with rich layers of pasta and a chunky, beef shin ragu. It’s hearty and incredibly cheesy, but is served lukewarm, which slightly dampens our spirit. While on paper, it might sound like the dream deal, the bottomless aspect is perhaps more aspirational, and after a slice or two, most mortals will be ready to admit defeat.
Senza Fondo isn’t perfect, but it sure is a lot of fun. Come for the buzzy vibe, and value Negronis, and see if you can get your name in the lasagne Hall of Fame whilst you’re at it.