Last Updated on August 27, 2024
Bringing a taste of Southern Italy to Borough Market
Pulia is an exciting new Southern Italian restaurant located in London’s historic Borough Market, an area well-frequented by food lovers and easily accessed via London Bridge station. Making my way there last week I was struck by just how buzzy it was; even on a cold dark winter’s evening the streets were filled with people happily sitting outside eating and drinking.
The restaurant which is tucked away in Stoney Street, is contemporary, light and airy with a warm and friendly atmosphere, offering tables in a variety of sizes allowing for sharing. It has a genuine rural Italian country feel to it, decorated in natural hues, with a wooden floor and tables, earthenware pots and window boxes sprouting with shoots of wheat. There’s a long central bar and shelves stacked with their own Pulia products, which include a selection of wonderful wines, olive oil, wholewheat taralli snacks and balsamic vinegar.
Pulia was founded in Italy in 2012 with the mission of bringing the Apulian culinary traditions to the world. They currently have a branch in Brindisi, Puglia as well as this new London restaurant. Puglia, also called Apulia, is located in the southeastern tip of Italy, a region known for its Mediterranean climate and the quality and authenticity of its food. It’s also noted for its olive oil, the region provides around 40% of the country’s olive oil, which amounts to around 300,000 tonnes every single year!
Puglia’s traditional cooking practices have been passed down through the generations. Here the menu offers a great selection of classic Apulian dishes, it puts the emphasis on serving high-quality food selecting ingredients and local produce with sustainable production. It also includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. We were there to sample a selection of dishes from the menu.
We started the evening with an elegant tipple of prosecco and fresh strawberry juice, accompanied by a Verdure Sott’oli e Focaccia Pugliese – a selection of vegetables in oil with some sensationally good Focaccia bread topped with juicy tomatoes, all made in-house.
Next, we tried their own beautifully fresh, cool and creamy Burrata which is produced in Andria Village, served with plentiful slices of rustic Capocollo Ham, and Insalata di Polpo, a hearty Apulian dish with tender pieces of grilled octopus, chunks of potato, celery and sprinkled with salty black olives.
We moved on to the main courses. Braiola al Sugu Pugliese were delicious, meaty calf rolls drizzled with a rich Apulian tomato sauce served with a crisp parmesan wafer. Then there was Agnolotti Ricotta & Spinachi – fresh plump-filled pasta parcels bathed in a tomato sauce and Tubante di Orata con Verdure, a sea bream turban with lightly steamed vegetables served in a sweet carrot velouté.
Pulia restaurant offers a concise wine list mainly comprising local vintages and an extensive cocktail collection. We drank their wine Grefia Fiano Puglia – crisp, mineral with citrus notes which was a great match to our meal. The Pulia wines are available to buy along with their other retail products.
Finally, to round off the evening we indulged in Pasticciotto – some absolutely delicious traditional rich and moist chocolate and custard-filled Apulian pastries.
We think this place is the perfect spot to enjoy an aperitivo at the bar and great for those who appreciate simple, fresh and unpretentious regional Italian food and wine.
Pulia restaurant is open from noon to 11 pm Monday to Saturday and from noon to 10 pm on Sunday.
Pulia, 36 Stoney Street, London SE1 9LB
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