Lina Stores

Lina Stores has been trading on Brewer Street since 1944, and the green-and-white deli, with its jars of olives, hanging salami and counter of fresh pasta, is still there. The restaurant side, now with several London branches including one on Greek Street, is the newer addition, but it keeps faith with the same idea: handmade pasta, made fresh daily, kept simple.

The menu is short by design, antipasti, pasta, dolci, and that restraint works in its favour. Pasta dishes are the reason to go, made in-house and cooked properly al dente, with fillings and sauces that do not try to overcomplicate what is essentially good technique done consistently. Prices are reasonable for central London, antipasti from around £3, which keeps the whole experience feeling more like a neighbourhood Italian than a tourist-trap version of one.

The dining rooms lean into the deli’s original aesthetic, tiled floors, green paintwork, a fair amount of charm without feeling contrived. Service is generally warm and unhurried, though busier sittings can feel rushed given how quickly tables turn over.

The trade-off for the short menu is limited variety if you are visiting more than once in a short space of time; regulars will find the choices familiar fairly quickly. It is also worth knowing that with multiple branches now open across the city, the atmosphere and quality can vary slightly by location, the original Soho sites carry more of the history than some of the newer openings.

For straightforward, well-made pasta with genuine Soho heritage behind it, it remains a dependable choice.

The business has grown to several sites across London in recent years, moving well beyond its Soho roots while trying to keep the same short, pasta-focused menu at each one. The original Brewer Street deli is still worth a separate visit even if you eat at the Greek Street restaurant, it sells the same fresh pasta and cured goods to take home, and it is where the Lina Stores story genuinely began in 1944. Expect a short wait at peak lunch and dinner times regardless of which branch you choose.