From my visit in late May 2026: I felt underdressed as I walked into this upscale, Michelin star Italian restaurant known as Bancone. But the waitress was really sweet and escorted me to the bar area has a nice view of the kitchen and the feel of a cooling vent (this came in handy during my visit) Upon sitting down, I got this Italian distill water that tasted fresh. I took a look at the menu. I initially wanted to get one of the Negronis and the silk hanker-chief with the duck confit and the egg yolk (Bancone's specialty dish). But today just so happened to be the hottest day in London's history, I wanted to play it safe with the water and the spicy pork nduja ragù, tagliatelle. I also notified the waitress that I am allergic to shellfish and truffle. Guess what the most popular add on was and who left thier Benadryl back at the Airbnb? Ah but luckily the vent kept blowing fresh air in my face which helped waft away the scent of truffle. Thanks to the vent, I didn't get nausea. Now the food. That was the best pasta I ever had. I ate the entire thing. I licked the plate clean. I never do that back home. Olive Garden would never. Everything from the pasta to the sauce to the cheese - was 100% fresh, flavorful, it balanced out perfectly with the pork. Then the manager/owner came by to talk to me. He asked me how I liked the food. I told him that I genuinely found this restaurant on social media and that this was on my top 5 things to do in London. He was very sweet and welcoming. I hope his restaurant continues to thrive and get another Michelin - as they should. read more

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Best meal in London. Beautiful, thoughtful food. Skilled and creative pasta and other preparations. Outrageous value. read more

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First off this place is very busy a reservation is recommended. The dishes we had (pictured below) were excellent!!! The staff were all so friendly and truly wonderful to interact with - we told the manager so. It's a great spot for date night at the noise level was not too bad given the tight seating accommodations. It's clean and comfortable- we will coming back. We had a wonderful evening. Thank you wonderful staff!!! read more

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Stumbled across Bancone when looking for a meal and saw the incredible reviews and Michelin star. We didn't have a reservation but took a chance as a walk in. We were lucky there was a bit of a gap as they were able to seat us with the time disclaimer as to when they'd need the spot back. (It was a decent amount of time that allowed for cocktails and a full meal so no real concern there.) I ordered the silk handkerchiefs pasta which was so smooth and truly savory in the best way. There were a few bites that I wish had some more salt, but overall well worth the hype. read more

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Great food and a fun lively atmosphere here but an absolute travesty for not allowing you to take away your leftovers. We came here to celebrate our daughter's graduation with her picking Bancone for it's excellent food and being well recommended online. Everything was great with our meal as we tried the "silk handkerchief" pasta dishes, Cacio e Pepe, and a couple of other dishes along with a couple of drinks and appetizers (focaccia and the fried artichoke). Our waitress (Bernisha) was super cool and helpful as was an additional staff member who brought our food to the table and grated cheese for our dishes. The big rub comes from their absolutely ridiculous restaurant policy of not allowing you to take away your leftovers. My wife has a small appetite and we ALWAYS have to take her leftovers to go. Sometimes I eat them the next day and sometimes she does. I mean why waste some great food? When we asked for a few take away containers for my wife's, daughter's and daughter's boyfriend's leftovers we were told they don't allow that. W. T. F. ???? I thought they were joking at first. Then the man who brought our food out and grated our cheese earlier came over to our table and explained that the restaurant policy is not to allow guests to take their leftovers home. When asked why, he proceeded to give an explanation that if customers took their leftovers home, the restaurant would lose the quality control and presentation of the food. For example, we could get sick by not reheating the leftovers properly or we could leave them out of their restaurant-controlled environment (e.g. in a hot car) and the food could go bad. He actually said they could be sued for someone getting sick due to this example. I informed him that I have eaten out a lot in my 60 plus years and in many different countries in all types of restaurants and have NEVER EVER heard of a restaurant not allowing their customers to take home their leftovers from meals THAT WE PAID FOR! I asked him what other restaurants around there do this. He actually said "a lot of them do". Wrong answer. No one else does. The only time I can remember a place not allowing take away food was all you can eat buffets for obvious reasons. A quick online query of this ludicrous policy states the following: "In London, refusing takeaway containers for restaurant leftovers is uncommon, particularly in casual, mid-range, or chain spots where doggy bags are widely offered and accepted as standard practice. High-end fine dining spots (e.g., Michelin-starred) are more likely to decline, citing food safety rules or presentation standards, though even there it's fading due to anti-waste campaigns". Bancone in Borough Yards is not a Michelin-starred restaurant. It is a popular casual pasta bar known for fresh pasta sheets and Italian dishes.....but without any Michelin recognition. I would go here again for the food but make sure I don't get full too easily or watch my purchased leftovers go to waste. Oh, another tip for Bancone: Tell your staff not to argue with paying customers. read more

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Got lucky walking by and not having a reservation. They were able to squeeze us in with a 90 min time slot at the bar. The pasta dishes we had were phenomenal. No complaints! Fresh pasta, with amazing sauce, 10/10! I wasn't a fan of the drink I got (Chianti Negroni) but I only ordered it because they were out of basil for the gin drink with basil on their menu. The gnocchi was phenomenal. read more

Bancone - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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The pasta was amazing, you could def tell it was homemade. The service was friendly and quick. All the dishes we had were very high quality and well done. The drinks were delicious as well. Cute decor. Def a great spot for dinner. read more

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Oh em gee one of the best pastas I've ever had is the silk handkerchief. The sauce is light but filling and not heavy like a cream sauce. The ragu was also delicious, the pasta is cooked perfectly al dente. Also highly recommend the ice cream for dessert read more

Bancone - Ragu and silk handkerchiefs - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

We stumbled upon this restaurant and were so happy we did! The restaurant was very busy but they were able to accommodate our party of 3 at the bar! Food was delicious and drink selection excellent as well! Great atmosphere! read more

Bancone - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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The handkerchief carbonara was really good. I liked that we didn't need a reservation and we're still able to get a spot. read more

Bancone - Silk handkerchief carbonara - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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A Michelin Bib Gourmand and reasonably priced??? Yes and yes! We came for lunch and Bancone was pretty busy, but fortunately we were able to get a couple of seats in the back. Bancone is certainly worthy of its reputation. We started off with the sourdough and the fried artichokes with romesco sauce. I recommend having both together, because you'll definitely want the bread to sop up any remaining romesco sauce. We had the spicy pork ragu with tagliatelle and the king prawn agnolotti. I preferred the pork, but both were excellent. Like others have pointed out, the Covent Garden location is kind of small, so people are packed in there together. And it's pretty busy so service can be a little on the slow side, but Bancone is probably the best meal you're going to find right around Trafalgar Square...and the best spot to get a negroni as well. read more

Bancone - Potato sourdough - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Heard so many good things about this place. I went to the Covent Garden location and it was deemed one of London's 2025 @michelinguide Bib Gourmand restaurants! Everything I had was amazing. The hostess and waitress were a delight to speak with and the ambience made me feel at home. If you're ever in London and looking for some yummy pasta, I would bookmark this spot. ⁣ ⁣ read more

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YUMMY, house made, fresh pasta in Covent Gardens, a really really cool shopping area (multiple blocks) in London. We got to sit right at the bar separated from the open kitchen, just by a small plexiglass/acrylic barrier. Atmosphere was lively, restaurant was busy but still comfortable, and we shared a yummy local bottle of wine. We tried three different pastas and the fried artichoke app and were STUFFED, happily so. The silk handkerchiefs are melt in your mouth deliciousness (a must order); we also got these crab fold over pastas which were okay (not the most flavorful, but fine) and the Spicy pork & nduja ragù which was really yummy, not too spicy but great flavor. The fried artichoke app was incredible, bursting with flavor and had a great crunch! Must have a reservation here -- and would book weeks ahead! read more

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I've been to Bancone two times now and it is easily one of the best spots in London for fresh pasta. Try to get a reservation beforehand, it's super popular and not a big restaurant. I ordered the silk handkerchiefs which is probably what the restaurant is most known for. The pasta has a nutty texture to it from the walnuts, and extra creaminess from the egg yolk. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and that brown butter and walnut combination was absolutely delicious. read more

If you're a pasta lover, Bancone is an absolute gem. Fresh, handmade pasta at prices that won't break the bank? Yes, please. I've visited several locations around London, and every single one delivers the same consistent quality and flavor. The menu is small but perfectly curated, aseverything is made fresh daily. I tried the Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara, and both were cooked perfectly al dente bliss. Plates arrived quickly, and every bite was delicious. The wine list is extensive, with options by the glass or bottle, making it easy to pair with your pasta. Service is friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The vibe is casual, trendy, and fun, with great music to set the mood. Reservations are highly recommended, as their seats fill up fast. P.S. I've heard they don't do to-go boxes, but honestly... who's leaving a bite behind anyway? read more

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Best pasta ever! Fresh homemade pasta and great choices on menu. Friendly staff & manager! 5 * restaurant with reasonable prices! read more

The pasta itself was flawless in terms of texture and doneness. However, the ragù was too dry and lean, and could have used more fat. The carbonara on the other hand was too runny and was not emulsified properly. It should be noted that most of the menu were more experimental rather than traditional, which is not necessarily positive nor negative on its own. Bread was high in quality and accompanied by good fruity olive oil but also expensive. Other menu items were reasonably priced. Ambience was casual and not memorable in a particular way. Service was good. Overall good but with obvious areas for improvement. read more

Great pasta. Highly recommend the handkerchief carbonara, my wife stole it away from me after eating 1/3rd of it and I could not get it back. Service was good and negronis were solid as well. read more

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My traveling companion's niece lives in London and suggested this place for dinner. It is right near where we are staying in Piccadilly Circus however they do have several locations in London. We started with the fried artichoke and it was so good with a romesco sauce that I never got a picture. Fabulous wine list, you can order by the bottle or the glass. We also got the potato sourdough bread. It comes in pieces of two so if you have a large group you would need to order based on that. For our entrées, my friend got the cavio e pepe with winter truffles, which were an add-on and I got the malfalde pasta with anchovy cream, anchovies, martini olives, and jalapeños. My dish was very unique, but I loved it. The place was packed, but we were able to walk right in and get a seat at the bar downstairs at approximately 6:15 PM on a Tuesday night in the winter. They do take reservations. If you love fresh handmade pasta this is the place for you. We also noticed that they had a private room. It is a small menu, but that is because they make everything very fresh. We opted not to get dessert. Enjoy! read more

Bancone - Cacio e pepe with winter truffles - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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I walked past this restaurant and noticed the tree through the window - a real tree! And the overall ambiance was nice. So I decided to give it a go. I didn't get to sit around the tree as there was already a group there, but it was still cool. I got the spicy pork & nduja ragu. It was so delicious! Service was good and they made sure I was good with my allergies. read more

I came here for dinner with a friend after another friend recommended and we loved it! The atmosphere layout was great. We were sat at the bar area and got to see a chef cutting up and preparing appetizers. He was great and provided us with our meal recommendations. Our server was kind but did take awhile with the bill and closing us out, as we did have somewhere to go and we had to flag her down. The cocktails they don't allow you to modify, which was a bit frustrating but I ended up going with the Gin & Basil Smash, though I wanted vodka and settled for the Gin and it was good! We got: - Foccacia - AMAZING, almost ordered a second - Fried artichokes - loved the artichokes, could have done without the sauce - Burrata - also phenomenal, the seasoning was great - Duck ragu - was okay, a bit sweet - Caccio e pepe - would not have been on my radar, if it wasn't for the chef recommendation - LOVED IT read more

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Friend told us to stop here and it was worth it! Very nice atmosphere. All the pasta is made in house. The spaghetti alla chitara was good. Needed some salt or more flavor. The bacatini cacio e Pepe was so good while so simple. Cheese and pepper but full of flavor. Now - the winner. The silk handkerchief. The special was the usual dinner carbonara (added crispy bacon). I'm still thinking about the flavor. read more

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Service is good friendly people Nice fresh pasta Quite casual and trendy One downside: No doggy bag allowed if you can't finish your food read more

One of my favorite meals we had in London. Very fresh ingredients and great service. Highly recommend. read more

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Came here on a friend's recommendation and we're so happy with the experience. Love that they offered gluten free options! The service was great and accommodating. We got the special Handkerchief carbonara, cacio y Pepe, chilli chitarra, and gluten free chilli chitarra. The special was the best with delicious flavor! The cacao y pepe was flavorful too but my daughter wanted a larger serving. The chilli chitarra was ok but not nearly as flavorful as the special. And the gluten free version was extremely oily and lacked flavor. We got the chocolate marscapone & crème caramello for dessert which were yummy. My husband enjoyed the pecan old fashioned too. Loved the decor and overall vibe. read more

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Bancone has delivered an admirable achievement: provide a good experience, service, and flavor at a reasonable price in London. While I wouldn't describe this as the best Italian-focused meal of my life, it was certainly quite good and worthy of a visit. Your first impression is probably good. The space is lively, the aesthetics are well-considered if a bit plain, and the music curation is spot-on. After a few minutes you'll be thinking "I hope the food is good too!" Fortunately, the star of the show does deliver. For starters I tried the fried artichoke and the burrata. The artichoke came with a romesco sauce that was tasty but weird to pair with that vegetable. The burrata, on the hand, was perfect and served with a delightful tomato confit. We're off to a good start! The pastas were very good. We tried the spicy pork and nduja ragu which was hearty and savoury, and the spaghetti 'alla chitarra' which was classic and simple. Both were tasty but not mind blowing. Service was very good although the space at the bar was a little cramped and the people next to me were often bumping into me unintentionally. Price came to around 65 pounds for everything with a couple of beers. Recommended! read more

We got lunch reservations here after a recommendation from a friend and I have to admit I was skeptical because it looked really nice but to be honest it was amazing and well priced. We got seated quickly and had a nice booth with an excellent waitress. We got our tap water and focaccia to start. The focaccia serves 2 people per order and it was delicious! For my main I got the oh so popular ribbon noodles and I have admit they were divine. They added Parmesan on top for me freshly shaved. The egg yolk was just perfect on top too. This meal was divine and the vibes were great (not busy at lunch!) I cannot recommend it more read more

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I've now been to most of the Bib Gourmand Italian spots in London, and Bancone is really good. I loved the fried artichoke; the sauce brought so much flavor without distracting from the guilty pleasure of a fried artichoke. The signature item, the hankerchiefs, had amazing flavor. Enjoyed all of the plates, which were sized right for a three course meal. Service was good. Only note was that the Negroni, while priced nicely, was really small. Would appreciate if they were on the larger side. Regardless, would absolutely come back. read more

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Second time in 4 months. By now I tried almost every pasta and Milanese.. service was accommodating and pleasant. Pasta choices! I am still thinking of them - well long way from San Diego. We sat downstairs. Nice setting. If you like pasta you must try this place! read more

So disappointed. I had the rare breed beef caramelle. It was barely warm and had no flavor. Pretty to look at but zero substance. I also had to flag down the host to order a drink and to close out. Servers are over tasked. read more

We frequent Bancone when we are here for business trips. Excellent food and service for a great price!

Solid but not great nor worth the hype. Party vibe, well lit establishment in the heart of the action. We had reservations and walk ups were getting turned away for the night (but we also noticed a bunch of two top tables available around 7pm). Seated promptly. Some delay for drink and food order, server seemed surprised we wanted it in sequence (not all at once). Starters were not great, dry focaccia and prosciutto, cauliflower salad was bizarre and had clumps of a mayo like substance and was dying for a citrus or acid. Negroni selection was good but they are small. Wine selection limited which was a little odd. Pasta quality was high, venison and cacio e Pepe were best selections. Skip the spicy pork. More service delays. Desserts were fine, served ahead of coffee. There are much better Italian or pasta focused restaurants. read more

Bancone - Pasta prep station. - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

The service was amazing. We called ahead for a reservation but ended up inviting a couple more people. They let us add to our table number without having to call ahead. They were extremely accommodating and gave great food and drink recommendations. Strongly recommend the Silk Handkerchiefs! It's delicious and is the perfect portion. I'm generally not able to finish a full plate of food and this was the perfect amount for me! read more

Bancone - Negroni, Silk Handkerchiefs - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

We got the hogget pasta and the carbonara. The carbonara, as everyone says, is amazing. I love how they give you the egg yolk with the warm cheesy pasta on the warm plate so that it all mixes together into a super delicious cheesy rich sauce. So tasty!! We got the hogget with thai basil because we thought it was super interesting looking and wanted to try something different, and we are so glad we did! It has a slight gamey-ness, but not overpowering. It was just enough to add amazing flavor and complement the other asian-inspired flavors of the dish. The flavors worked really well together. The service was great, and our server helped us out with choosing between the hogget and another interesting dish. The ambiance is very nice, I would say it's a perfect level of formality where it's not too formal but still very nice, modern, and classy. read more

Bancone - Hogget thai basil pasta - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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The pasta was fresh, creative and delicious. Cauliflower was a hit for two of us but not so for the other two in our party. Finally the burrata was fresh and tasty. After we finish it, we realized we should have ordered the focaccia which looks amazing and we heard it was delicious. The menu is limited so if you're not a fan of it pasta it may not be a good choice for you. read more

Bancone - Silk handkerchiefs - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Our favorite meal in London. We ordered the silk handkerchiefs with egg and walnut, Seaweed butter & mackerel, and celeriac rigatoni for entrees. We also ordered the cod roe dip for app. The dip was very flavorful and the standout was the seaweed butter and mackerel! I have never had a dish like that before and would recommend it if you like seafood. All the pasta is handmade and overall I think this place is worthy of their bib gourmand selection. Make a reservation! read more

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Food was generally quite good - the service was quite poor. After we ordered our food - no one checked on us until we flagged someone down after we finished eating to get refills on our water. We would have ordered a refill on drinks but didn't have the opportunity. Maybe they were just extra busy but our experience wasn't good. read more

The ambiance and service were great and it was easy to get a seat alone at the bar. The drinks are also delicious. However, I was surprised by my disappointment with the food. I had high expectations given its on Michelin guide and was recommended by a friend. I was especially excited for the handkerchief, walnut butter, and confit egg yolk but I found it to be too bland. The texture of the pasta was great and clearly made very well. I also had the brown shrimp, keta caviar, anchovy cream, and fettuccine. I expected it to have a seafood flavor but it tasted way too fishy for my taste. The shrimp and caviar were fine but I felt that there was too much anchovy cream. The portions were also fairly small given I had two pastas to myself. read more

Bancone - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Yum yum yuuum! With my extensive food allergies, I often have the best luck at restaurants that make their own pasta. And I had luck here! I was turned away from one restaurant because they couldn't accommodate me, so I quickly grabbed a reservation here for a late evening bite. The waitress was so great and knew the menu really well! I was able to safely order and eat! I had also wanted a glass of wine but unfortunately they don't have green wine and all other varieties upset my stomach. Would gladly return. read more

Such good pasta in London for the price. We ordered the carbonara and the gnocchi and both were good but the carbonara was next level. If we were to go back I'd order the carbonara again. Good service as well read more