When we’re in the Soho area and looking for a nice teatime spot, one of the spots we gravitate towards is Amato on Old Compton Street. It’s a little less crowded than the slightly more famous Maison Bertaux but that doesn’t mean that their goodies are any less delicious!
Upon entering, you’re led to the back where there are a number of tables - it was almost empty when we went that day but it’s been chock-a-block at other times we’ve visited. You’ll be walking past a long display case of cakes and typical Viennoiserie and some Italian pastries too.
From the menu, we both chose iced tea to drink - just right to quench our thirsts. Hey, I just realised that I’ve been drinking a lot of iced tea this past year. Time to make some myself at home!
To eat (for one must have a little nibble at teatime) I chose this decadent looking confection from the pastry display case.
The waiter called it a cannoli but it looked more like cannoncini, according to their website. Whatever it’s called, it’s a spirally cylinder of puff pastry filled with a crema pasticciera. Only it turned out not to be any old pastry cream - this was chocolate pastry cream! Oh, it was light, and yet not light, if you know what I mean!
Until that trip, I had no idea that Amato also served meals; we saw two girls tucking into bowls of spaghetti, one of the daily specials. Definitely going to have to go back for that! Oh, and our tea for two (with the nibble) set us back about £8.
Amato
14 Old Compton Street
London W1D 4TH
Sun, 1 Jun, 2008 at 00:32
I think they call that coronet here in Japan.
Sun, 1 Jun, 2008 at 21:50
Anything Italian influenced is OK by me … as long as they have filter coffee … that ‘americano’ is way too strong, and there’s nothing like enough of it.
Mon, 2 Jun, 2008 at 09:05
gota say, i prefer this than Patisserie Valerie..
although i like to drink tea in Maison B.
Their pasta isn’t bad, but occasionally they serve them very small proportion for some reason!?
Tue, 3 Jun, 2008 at 22:33
kat: Such a cute name!
travelrat: Filter coffee?! Nooooooooooooooooo!
Suzie: I agree with you there. I find that Patisserie Valerie has spread itself a little thin lately. Shame about the small pasta sizes - I’ll just keep making and eating it at home then.