How to Tell If an Italian Restaurant Is Truly Authentic (Hint: It’s More Than Just Pasta on the Menu)

(A Friendly Guide from Baccalà in Bermondsey)

London is full of “Italian” restaurants—some delightful, others... Let's just say, more Britalian than Italian. It’s easy to get lost in the carbonara fog (especially when it comes with cream 😬). Italian food is universally loved, but in a city packed with pasta joints and “Italian-inspired” menus, finding the real thing can be surprisingly tricky.

As an independent, family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of Bermondsey Street, we at Baccalà are proud to fly the flag for proper Italian cooking, and we know exactly what sets the real deal apart.

So, we’ve put together this guide to help you spot true Italian authenticity. From ingredients and wine to service and soul, here’s how to tell when an Italian restaurant is the real thing… and how we do it at Baccalà.

Curious how to spot the real thing? Here's what makes an authentic Italian restaurant (and what we swear by at Baccalà)

7 Signs You've Found a Truly Authentic Italian Restaurant

1. The Menu Reflects Italy's Real Diversity

   Italy isn’t one flavour—it’s a whole spectrum. From coastal seafood to hearty mountain ragù, real Italian cuisine reflects regionality and seasonality. If you’ve ever wondered what real authentic Italian food is, this is it: food that respects origin, season, and technique—not trends.

   
   

   At Baccalà, we’re seafood-led, but we’re not purists about it. Alongside dishes like linguine with red prawns or grilled bream, you’ll also find occasional specials like lasagna made the traditional way, and our beloved homemade pasta with slow-cooked beef ragu. It’s not about excluding dishes; it’s about doing them properly.

   
   

   An authentic Italian menu is like a love letter to the regions. You’ll find dishes that reflect real traditions: linguine with red prawns, burrata with Tuscan tomato bread, or puntarelle with Lambrusco vinegar—not just spaghetti and “Italian-style” meatballs. At Baccalà, Chef Moreno designs menus inspired by seasonal ingredients and regional recipes, not trends.

   
   

   We even list dishes using their proper Italian names, because you deserve better than "pasta alla something."

   
   

2. The Wine List Tells a Story

   If the wine list only offers Pinot Grigio and Chianti, it’s a missed opportunity. A real Italian restaurant will invite you to discover something new.

   
   

   Our sommelier, Fabio De Nicola, curates wines from small, independent producers all across Italy. Expect natural wines, unexpected gems, and perfect pairings for every dish. Whether it’s a citrusy Vermentino with your seafood or a rich Barolo with your beef ragù, the wine isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of the experience.

   
   

   An authentic Italian restaurant doesn’t serve wine just because it’s trendy. It champions small producers, native grapes, and terroir. Our wine list is curated by Sommelier Fabio De Nicola, who works with low-intervention, natural wines from independent winemakers across Italy. Expect unusual bottles, beautiful surprises, and perfect pairings—not Pinot Grigio on repeat.

   
   

3. Less Is More —And More Delicious

   Italian food is about letting great ingredients shine. That’s why you won’t find cream in our carbonara (actually, you won’t find classic carbonara on the menu, but carbonara with mussels, we did it, we’d do it right). Whether it’s grilled octopus with lardo di Colonnata, or homemade pasta with beef ragù, Chef Moreno keeps things simple, bold, and honest without frills.

   
   

4. 

   
   

   Hospitality Is in the DNA and the People Make It Personal

   You can feel when a place is independently owned. At Baccalà, we’re not part of a chain or a trend— we’re a tight-knit team with a big passion.

   
   

   The food should be great, yes. But the welcome should be warm. We’re proud to be a family-run neighbourhood restaurant. Fabio, Elif and Ilanit, our partners, lead the front of the house with genuine care and attention to detail. We want you to feel at home, whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth.

   
   

   We care about everything: your meal, your wine, your experience.

   
   

5. Regional Identity Matters

   From Sicily to Veneto, every region in Italy has its own ingredients, dishes, and personality. A proper Italian restaurant respects this. At Baccalà, you’ll find influences from Chef Moreno’s native Marche, Fabio’s beloved Lazio, and beyond. One bite of our anchovies from Cetara or carpaccio di polpo and you’re halfway to the Mediterranean.

   
   

6. Seasonality Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Way of Life

   In true Italian tradition, we let the seasons guide us. That means menus that shift with what’s fresh, from asparagus and Tropea onions in spring to mushrooms and black truffle in autumn.

   
   

   The artichokes come in spring, the seafood gets lighter in summer, and figs and truffle show up in the autumn. We follow the same rhythm at Baccalà. Chef Moreno builds our menu around what’s fresh, local, and best on the day, meaning what you eat in July is different from what you eat in November. And that’s how it should be.

   
   

   Sometimes we even switch up our millefoglie fruit toppings, depending on what’s best that week. It keeps things exciting and keeps flavours at their peak.

   
   

7. You Can Tell It’s Not Just a Restaurant, It’s a Passion Project

   In truly authentic Italian restaurants, you can always feel the passion behind the food, the service, and the experience. You can taste when a place is run by people who truly care. These are places where hospitality is heartfelt, not scripted, and where the kitchen is led by someone who cooks with intention, not repetition.

   
   

   At Baccalà, every dish and every glass is personal. Chef Moreno is always in the kitchen, hands-on and present. Fabio is always happy to talk about wine at your table. Elif and Ilanit know regulars by name. It’s not a chain. It’s not a brand. It’s us—doing what we love, and sharing it with you.

Ready to Experience an Authentic Italian Restaurant in the Heart of London?

Authentic Italian dining is all about heart, heritage and honest cooking, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Baccalà.

If you’ve been searching for an Italian restaurant in London that actually feels like Italy, we’d love to welcome you to Baccalà. We’re on Bermondsey Street—open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. Come for the seafood, stay for the wine, and leave with a little taste of the real thing.

👉 Book your table today and taste what authentic really means.