Review & Testimonials
The Islington Gazette - 1st August 2007
Meals to Shout About
I like restaurants that have a fresh, funky feel and great food - and Say Cafe fits the bill.
The traditional, gloriously cluttered family Italian restaurant will always have a special place in my heart with all its paintings, fish nets and checked table cloths.
But Carl Say's youthful take on the established favourite certainly makes a welcome change. Clean surfaces and an open kitchen are brought to life by a dab of funky house music lingering unobtrusively in the background.
Carl has travelled the world to bring an exotic and unusual twist to established favourites and the results are worth relishing.
My partner and I shared a roasted vegetable salad (£7.50) for a starter - a fusion of Mediterranean veg, feta, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar.
I'm a sucker for meat that started life in a woolly coat and the lamb fusili (£8.70) was too good to resist. The slow-cooked aubergine sauce in a tomato and aubergine sauce with goats cheese and herbs was succulent and tasty - why can't I cook like that?
Special mention must go to the pasta itself which is freshly made - and you really can taste the difference.
You could almost taste the garden in my companion's rocket, baby spinach and goats cheese pizza (£6.95). Through either wisdom or cowardliness, however, she decided to give the bacon and banana pizza a miss.
A bottle of South African pinotage was a great little drink, full flavoured and woody and good value at £16.95. In fact, surrounded by the pricier establishments of Upper Street, the restaurant is good value.
The service was friendly and personable and it would be a great place to take the family. Top marks.
Ed Davey
- Main courses - £5.60 to £8.70
- Bottle of wine - From £11.95
- Disabled access - Yes
- Children welcome
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