Caterina 55

3 Reviews on “Caterina 55”

• Agostina Bianco

  I really liked the concept of it: Italian fast food. You would never think about Italian food as fast food but in Caterina 55 things are different.Pasta, pizza, soups, burgers are all homemade, organic and healthy, how Italian food should be.Staff is really friendly, prices are very affordable for the City standard and you have your food ready in less than 10 minutes!The best meals are definitely Ligurian burger, Pasta Pesto and the amazing and delicious homemade tiramisu.The only negative aspect is the location, too hidden between the skyscrapers of the City.I hope they will open a second branch more central and touristic, so people can really appreciate the potential the restaurant has.

  February 13, 2016, 12:13 am

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• HerFavFood

  Caterina 55 was introduced to me as Italian fast food.The restaurant itself is reminiscent of a Pret or Leon kind of atmosphere. There’s lots of comfortable seating and a counter where you would order the food. The counter itself displays lots of tasty looking cakes and pastries as well as some quick savoury snacks.There are tables for groups but even more bar stool seating that would be perfect for individuals to scatter themselves along the windows if they were dining on their own. However, although it is nice for the style it is it’s not swanky by any stretch of the imagination.Would I Want Seconds?I was lucky enough to be invited to an event Caterina 55 where hosting, which allowed me to sample a banquet of food from different sections of the menu on my visit.The first snack I tried was the Chicken Balls (3.35 – 6 pieces or 5.25 for 10) as well as some basic Fries (2.50). Both of these items were good enough. The chicken balls were a bit dry and not packed with flavour, but I liked the texture and taste after dipping in ketchup. The fries were just as youd expect from fast food.Next I tried some Lentil Soup served with Croutons (3.90) which was good I couldn’t wait to get started on the traditional Italian pasta based dishes.They brought out dishes with a small serving of Lasagne Classiche (5.90) and Lasagne Al Pesto (5.90). The classic lasagne was great – exactly what I would expect. However the Pesto lasagne I found the noodles and especially the top layer with cheese a bit tough and while the flavour wasnt bad it wasnt worth the effort it took to eat the dish so I gave up halfway through.After a little bit of conversation and wine, next I tried some burgers. We tried the Chickpea Burger (5.50), the Beef Burger (5.25) and the Chicken Burger (5.00). All of them were really tasty. The Chickpea burger was a particular surprise to me that I liked it – partially because its vegetarian and normally I want meat for a burger!Im not convinced I saw the Italian influence in the burgers but maybe if I hadnt been comparing them to other dishes it would have been more obvious. As it is, they were tasty, standard burgers that if paid with the fries would make a pretty traditional fast food meal.The next dish we tried was the real wildcard for me. I had seen it on the menu and wasnt sure what to expectbut we were brought Fried Calamari (9.90). I was pleasantly surprised with the calamari considering the type of restaurant. It was a bit salty so needs a dip or something to help tone that down but it was good sized pieces and not too chewy.We then tried the pasta. I started with the Rigatoni Amatriciana (4.25) which was tasty. If I remember correctly I believe its vegetarian so the carnivore in me thinks it feels more like a side dish than a main – though had it been served in a full size container I might feel differently.I also had a taste of the Penne Bolognese (5.10) which felt more like it had potential as a full meal. If Im perfectly honest it was good, but there wasnt anything special about it. However, the price is good and would be just the kind of thing for a quick lunch.The best pasta I tried was a Penne Salmone. It was creamy and delicious and unexpected. I never expected such a tasty and uncommon pasta from a fast food type of restaurant. I didnt bring any home with me, but I have a suspicion it would be the kind of pasta that would be good cold as well so perfect to have for lunch the next day! By now I was absolutely stuffed even though I think I missed trying a couple of a burgers and another pasta.So I was glad when we started to wind down the evening with some desserts. I tried some Tiramisu (3.20) in which the coffee was very strong and I dont like coffee. Ive had tiramisu before that I could manage to get through but after a couple of bites this was just too strong for me. So I moved on to the Chocolate Bign (3.90) which was much, much better. It had a pastry with sweet cream and chocolate sauce. Not too sweet – just the right amount to finish up with. Of course by now I was beyond stuffed.Could I Afford Seconds?When they say fast food the prices certainly reflect that. A decent meal at Caterina would cost about what I would expect to pay elsewhere. Id say its pretty much on par with Pret a Manger – which makes sense as that was the feel I got for it only with Italian food, of course!The only thing Im not sure on is what the portion sizes are for those prices. The burgers and fries were sized well though so I would assume the pasta sizes are fair as well. And really none of the food tasted like the kind of junk youd expect from the prices and speed.Overall:So the food is good, the place is nicebut the Achilles heel of Caterina 55 is the location – at least for me. The location is right by a large block of office buildings so is perfect for someone that works nearby and wants to grab some quick lunch. However, it’s not much of a destination restaurant so its location being tucked away in Moorgate is definitely to its detriment – at least for a dinner crowd.I think if it were to expand locations especially into stations and high streets much like Pret has done then it would be a really nice option for when you want more than a sandwich but not a sit down meal. If I find myself in the area I will probably stop by, especially for the Penne Salmone, but unless that happens Im not sure Id see myself returning. herfavfood.com

  May 24, 2015, 10:11 pm

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• Michele Ambrosini

  Fantastic place!! Great food, amazing coffee, large sitting seating space. They only do natural food! The staff is super friendly, open 7 days a week, free WIFI.This is great spot in Moorgate.Highly recommended! 🙂

  October 22, 2014, 9:08 pm

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