Ok, so we’ve established that I am severely behind the trend and yes, I’ll even admit that I still haven’t been to either Polpo or Polpetto (I should be ashamed, no?) but when I laid eyes on this one blog which talked about Spuntino’s peanut butter & jelly ice cream sandwich, I knew it had my name on it.
Screw Polpo and Polpetto, I’m heading straight for their little brother.
Considering Spuntino only opened in March (like, one whole month ago) the fact that I’ve been shows my ambition, my dedication, my desperation… whatever you wanna call it. Being aware of Spuntino’s no reservation rule and their seating space for all of about 18 around the bar, I also went stupidly early. 6pm on Good Friday, I’m there eager and partially drooling, excited to get that PB&J into my food hole.
The place is actually really groovy and the barmen are groovier. Totally cute in that moustached, 50’s Italian in NYC, lindy-hopping kinda way. And before you even order, they bring a serve of olive oil laced popcorn. Cute guys and popcorn. I sure ain’t complaining
Now, we all know that I’m not capable of eating all that much right now (seriously, last night I had dinner at Tokyo Diner and dessert from Candy Cafe? I came home and spent the next two hours doubled over on the couch, clasping onto my abdomen. Not cool. But anyway…) but I’d heard all sorts of good things about the sliders at Spuntino and you know, they’re also itty bitty bite sized.
They have four sliders on the menu and I ordered two – a ground beef & marrow slider and a lamb & pickled cucumber slider. FIrstly, CUTENESS. Secondly, they were both delicious. Thirdly, I totally love the lamb & pickled cucumber one more… somehow the meat was tastier and the oozing cheese… and pickles. It was more like a burger, whereas the ground beef & marrow tasted like a giant (albeit delicious) meatball.
Other flavours are spiced mackerel and also salt beef. I’m getting those next.
Panu had a somewhat more substantial meal, starting with the truffle egg toast. Squidgy toast, gloopy cheese, an oozing egg and truffle. He said it was pretty much like a cheese fondue, and the truffle added the much needed kick to bring this dish from meh to YEAH. He also had steak & eggs, which took a stupendously long time to come out considering the steak was cooked perfectly, which means it would’ve taken about two minutes.
Not much to say about steak & eggs. I mean, it’s steak & eggs. That’s it.
Another thing I knew I needed to have at Spuntino was a serving of the shoestring fries. I love crispy fries. I always dig out the extra burnt crispy end bits in a pack and wish they were all born that way. Lucky for me, Spuntino does crispy fries awesomely and better yet, they’re curly too!
And of course, the star of the show, the peanut butter & jelly ice cream sandwich. I can’t even say that out loud without a grin spreading across my face. For those of you who don’t know, I’m addicted to a little sumthin’ called Goober Grape and well, I’m also just a tiny little bit (or like, a lot) inclined towards ice cream. This dessert is like having two of my favourite fantasies smooshed into one. With candied nuts sprinkled on top.
Oh my god. Right?
Well, it sure lived up to expectations. Two slices of “toast” or as you would have it, peanut butter ice cream (proper, creamy, peanut buttery too) sandwiching some cherry jam – the jam’s got a bite to it, which is perfect against the sweet ice cream. I can’t imagine a better dessert to have right now and seriously, if you like you ol’ PB&J, you sooooo need to have one of these.
Overall, loved Spuntino but from about 6.15pm onwards there’s a queue so if I were you, go early or go really really late. But go!
Spuntino
61 Rupert Street
Soho, W1D 7PW
No phone number, no reservations
website