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Tastemakers: Giuseppe Federici on London’s Not-to-Miss Restaurants

Giuseppe Federici

Welcome to The Latch Tastemakers, where we sit down with people who know a city’s scene like the back of their hand to ask their must-try restaurants, cafes and bars. Dive into our Tastemakers series and curate your ultimate hit-list, whether you’re exploring your own city or venturing somewhere new.

Giuseppe Federici knows good food, particularly when it comes to finding it in London. He was born and raised in the city, and, in the last five years, has exploded in the food world. Today, he has nearly 1 million combined followers on Instagram and TikTok where he regularly shares what he cooks at home (often with his nonna) and where he eats out.

“In London, no matter what you fancy, no matter what time of the day, you can pretty much get whatever you want,” Federici says. “There’s a huge culture on going out for dinner because there’s not really much else to do in the evenings other than going to the pub. The dining scene is also definitely a lot more expensive than Sydney’s.”

One of his favourite areas to dine out is in East London. Yes, it’s where he lives but he also thinks it has much more going on than West London — bars, pubs and restaurants that you can walk into, no reservation required. “In West London, it’s a bit more bougie, more expensive and you have to book a lot more,” he says.

Two specific areas he recommends for dining are Brick Lane, which has a range of affordable Indian restaurants, and Kingly Court in Convent Garden, which Federici says is one of the best spots to get a good feel of the city’s food scene.

“It’s basically a giant court and it has five or six restaurants,” he says. “Tacos, Syrian food — just basically loads of different types of food, so you’re guaranteed to find somewhere that you’ll like in there.”

Here, Federici shares his picks for where else to eat in London. Though some are fully vegan (he’s vegan), most cater to everyone.

Rudy’s

One of Federici’s favourite pizzerias is Rudy’s which has locations across England. He describes it as “cool, casual” that caters to any dietary and allergies. “They have great Aperol Spritz and a giant pizza oven in the middle,” he says. “Basically, it feels like you’re in Italy.”

Rudys Giuseppe Federici
Image: Instagram @wearerudyspizza

The menu is limited with only a handful of pizzas, a couple salads and a few drinks, so it’s easy to choose. You also have the option of customising your own pizza and it’s affordable.

Norma

Another Italian favourite of Federeci’s is Norma. It’s a Sicilian-inspired, gold-hued restaurant in a transformed townhouse on Charlotte Street, which Federici says is known for being lined with restaurants.

“They do great arancini and lasagnas,” he says. “I actually did a pop-up with them once and took over the whole menu for one night, made it fully vegan. And it sold out really quick.”

The Spread Eagle

Next on Federici’s London restaurant hit list is The Spread Eagle, the city’s first (and possibly only?) fully vegan pub. Located in East London, the venue serves quintessential pub food and Sunday roasts but with meat alternatives. It’s also got cheap drinks, the cosy feel British pubs are known for and games you can play while.

“London’s obviously known for its pub culture,” says Federici. “There’s pretty much a pub on every corner, if not more than one. And depending on where you go, it’s a different vibe. So, if you go East London, it’s going to be way more chill and probably cheaper drinks. Whereas West London is a bit more high-quality.”

Spread Eagle pub
Image: Instagram @thespreadeaglelondon

Scully

For a standout restaurant experience in London, Federici suggests Scully, located in St James Market, centrally located in the city. The restaurant is owned and run by Chef Ramael Scully, who was born in Malaysia, raised in Australia and now lives in the UK.

“When you walk in, there’s a giant wall of fermented pickles and cabbages and cucumbers,” says Federici. “And they also incorporate the fermented foods into their drinks. They have a nine-course tasting menu and it’s honestly some of the most incredible food I’ve ever had.

“They also have a regular menu and a fully vegan menu. So, you’re not going to get treated as less important if you have the vegan menu. The staff and the service are just incredible.”

Busaba

Another favourite restaurant of Federici’s is Busaba, a Thai spot with locations around the city that caters to any dietary and allergy. On the menu are grilled dishes, rice bowls, curries, wok stir-fries and versions of pad thai.

“They do an incredible – it’s called a Weeping Tiger Jay and they use vegan chicken,” says Federici. “It’s just incredible.”

Club Mexicana

A cheap London eat Federici recommends is Club Mexicana, a vegan Mexican restaurant, which has a location in Shoreditch and another in Soho.

Club Mexicana restaurant
Image: Instagram @clubmexicana

“If you go on a Tuesday, they do unlimited tacos for 20 pounds, which is about $40 AUD,” he says. “You can have as many tacos as you want. So go with a friend and share. It’s a great night out.”

Fortnum & Mason

Experiencing high tea, also called afternoon tea, is a must-do in London and one of Federici’s favourite places for it is at institution department store Fortnum & Mason — though for locals, high tea is visited on special occasions.

“I took my grandma to the high tea at Fortnum & Mason once and she loved it,” Federici says. “There’s also The Ritz’s high tea which is a little bit more expensive.”

Related: Tastemakers: Toby Wilson on Sydney’s Best Tacos — Other Than Ricos’

Related: Riding Sydney’s Wave of New Mexican Restaurants

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