The ultimate comfort foods in London

In Lamezia, the decor is modern and comfortable yet understated, with a comforting ambience that is typical of a family-run Italian restaurant. The menu is filled with simple but satisfying dishes including an indulgent aubergine parmigiana, a classic spaghetti with homemade meatballs, and not one, but two different versions of what might be considered the naughtiest of all the pasta dishes—the creamy, salty carbonara. Pair these saucy favourites with a mouth-filling glass of red and follow with a silky, sweet tiramisu and you’ve got yourself perhaps the ultimate Italian feast!

Even vegans need the odd indulgent pick-me-up. The Spread Eagle in Homerton boasts all the ingredients needed to make a great pub, from its royal blue walls and exposed wood floors to its warm lighting and low hanging lamps. The menu is full of homely favourites too – and it’s entirely vegan, so you don’t have to be envious of your non-vegan companion’s order. The new autumn menu (at the time of writing) features crispy fried chicken of the woods and classic pie, mash and liquor, while the Sunday roasts have long been legendary; think beet wellington and melt-in-the-mouth Yorkshire puddings smothered in gravy. Don’t bypass the dessert menu either, which offers decadent delights like sticky toffee pudding, pumpkin pie and warm chocolate brownie… Guilt-free comfort, what could be better?

Black Bear Burger has a devoted following for very good reason! The menu is based on the ethos of ‘simple, done well’, which is all you really want when you’re craving a classic, juicy burger. These guys use the best quality, grass-fed, dry-aged British beef in their burgers (and for the recently launched steak nights), plus you can add toppings like 12-hour beer braised brisket and smoked bacon with miso honey-butter mayo. They also offer up some interesting twists on your usual selection of sides, including a mouthwatering brisket spring roll and a rarebit crumpet with bovril butter. 

In Polpo, you’re transported to the neighbourhood haunts of Venice’s narrow back streets. Inside, the decor is modern and comfortable yet understated; bare bulbs glow golden, making for a particularly intimate ambience. The menu features rich small plates such as nduja arancini, creamy burrata and doughy pizzettes, as well as simple but satisfying pasta dishes including an indulgent ragu with rigatoni, and a classic spaghetti and meatballs. Pair these umami tomatoey favourites with a mouth-filling glass of red and follow with a silky, sweet tiramisu and you’ve got yourself perhaps the ultimate Italian feast.

When you’re after a seriously satisfying slice, it’s only a deep dish that will really deliver. Newly-opened Notting Hill hotspot Ria’s serves up coffee and focaccia sarnies by day and square Detroit-style pies and natural wines by night. Using 72-hour fermented dough made from wild farmed flour, you can choose from toppings including whipped ricotta and tomato, a creamy garlic wild mushroom, vegan n’duja and even roasted king prawns with a doubly decadent parmesan crust and parmesan cream drizzle. Crusts that are crisp then chewy, generous toppings, and dough that you can really sink your teeth into? Now that’s a pizza.

There’s nothing quite as soul-soothing on a grey day as a steaming bowl of spicy broth filled with twirls of noodles, melt-in-the-mouth meat and perhaps even a gooey egg. In Supa Ya Ramen, you’re already packed in pretty snug, allowing the windows to steam up and the sound of chatter fill the space.

Many of their ramen options include a British twist too (as if the dish could get even more comforting?!), such as roast chicken or Cumberland sausage. Look out for seasonal specials as well: ‘London’s first ever wontonmen’ is currently exclusively at the Peckham branch, which features roast garlic duck fat and smoked chicken and siracha wontons…

The Canton Arms boasts all the ingredients needed to make a great pub, from its slightly haphazard and charmingly worn decor to its warm lighting and wonky lamps. The menu is full of homely favourites too, from fish and chips to aubergine parmigiana, however Sundays are when the pub really shines, with its Dexter short rib slow cooked in Guinness and seven-hour Salt Marsh lamb shoulder served with moreish roasties. Don’t bypass the dessert menu either, which uses seasonal ingredients: think plum and almond galette and a crab apple jelly Queen of puddings…

Yes, fried chicken might be quite naughty, but at least at Coqfighter, you know you’re getting quality meat. Available in six areas across London from north to south, the menu features a really good array of options, from hot and spicy or smothered in buffalo sauce, to simply crispy and tender and dipped in miso gravy. Coqfighter was actually started by some Australians who brought their love for Korean fried chicken with them to the capital, which is why you’ll find that the original chicken burger features sambal mayo and Korean hot sauce and their signature wings are made Korean style: in a wafer thin soda and sesame batter with a sweet soy glaze…