Stringray Cafe

Have eaten here a few times and it's always reliable and great value for money. e.g. £10 for a house bottle of wine or £2.50 for a sorbet. The pizzas are delicious and very reasonably priced and the service is friendly. It's a great place for a long relaxed lunch if you don't want to spend a fortune. They also do gluten free pizzas.
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Jessie - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 13, 2011

If you live in and around Islington and Highbury and haven't been to Stringray Cafe then you are missing out on a local gem. The restaurant's facade gives nothing away, but once you step in, you feel instantly relaxed by the eclectic and quirky decor. Food is cheap but good standard Italian fare, with conventional pizzas and pastas making up the majority of the menu. If you're looking for varied and pioneering modern European Cuisine, this is not the place to come, but for a cheap, hearty and relaxed meal, it's pretty much perfection. Pizzas are fresh and tasty, and starters such as the Hummus and Aubergine Salad are a nice quirky addition to a standard Italian menu. You probably can't find food as good for this price in North London.
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Jonny
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 20, 2011

I have been to Stringray many times and have enjoyed my pizze there on most occasions – the few times I didn’t were when I was turned away as Stringray is nearly always full with locals and Columbia Road shoppers.

Every time I visit, the waiting staff seems to have changed. This is not a good sign, but despite this and the erratic service, Stringray’s pizze are good, and so I return.

Luckily, I was not turned away last Wednesday as my old friends Eduardo and Gary of Columbia Road’s Start Cafe invited me to join them for a pizza there.

The decor is quite simple but warm and welcoming – this is a cheap and cheerful pizzeria, with a lively atmosphere and no frills. It has a fireplace and a long-bar, and discreet lighting. This is great place to enjoy a nicely made pizza and beer on tap in a relaxed setting.

We ordered a bottle of “Italian Prosecco” @ £16.95, and “garlic bread with cheese” @ £4.50 whilst we mulled over our pizze choices. The garlic bread was fantastic – a “sauceless” and very thin pizza base had been covered with mozzarella cheese and chopped fresh garlic to make a simple but delicious starter.

Stringray’s menu is rather straight forward and well priced – in addition to about 9 “antipasti” choices, the menu comprises pizza and pasta options and three meat choices (fish, chicken and steak). Pizza prices vary from £4.95 to £6.95.

As always, we went for pizza, our choices were “Four Cheeses” @ £6.25, “American Hot” @ £6.25, and “Neptuno” @ £5.95.

I love their Four Cheeses pizza and order it regularly. This time was no exception – the pizza was as good as ever – cheesy and delicious with an ultra thin base. Stringray’s pizza has a completely different style than Pizza East or Rossopomodoro’s where the bases are thicker and have more of a bite to them (which I also love).

Gary’s “American Hot” was reasonably good although I felt that the pepperoni meat tasted slightly too processed for my liking.

Eduardo’s choice “Neptuno” was topped with tuna, olives, capers and onions. The tuna tasted like it had been taken straight out of a tin and contained no cheese which detracted from the overall experience.

Other pizze that I have sometimes are “Boscaiola” (tomato, mozzarella, mushroom, bacon and onions) @ £5.95, and “Quattro Stagione” (tomato, mozzarella, mushroom, capers & olives, anchovies and ham) @ £6.50, they are usually pretty good too.

Verdict – If you can get a table at this very popular East End Pizzeria, you will enjoy a competently made, thin crust pizza at very reasonable prices. Quality of ingredients can be variable and service erratic.
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The London Foodie - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 07, 2010

I live in Highbury N5 part of the week and I visited Stringay Cafe yesterday evening about 8.30pm - 22nd December with a friend. The weather was freezing cold outside, and it was a pleasure to go inside, the restaurant was well warm and cosy. The staff were very cool and polite, and I could feel immediately the relaxed atmosphere, with light music, which enabled you to have conversation. The food was excellent. I had the chicken florentine, which was full of excellent flavours. I also had a the house red, which was an excellent bottle, and it was one of the best reds I have had in a long time. For 2 people a good meal and dessert and a bottle of wine for £36 - I think was excellent value. What I also noticed was, which was good - everyone at their tables were slowly enjoying thier evening and the staff was not rushing anyone. After dinner, we were able to continue talking and drinking and talking - that was good for me.
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Michael
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Great value for money! The pizzas are huge and taste as good as anywhere. Try the goats cheese salad or potato skins for starter and go for the 'American Hot' rather than the 'Mexican' if you like your food spicy. The house red is good value at around £10.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, March 11, 2009