Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 2 and Version 1 of Amico Bio, WC1A 1BH

Italian restaurant on New Oxford Street in Holborn. It's the second branch of the original on Cloth Fair in Smithfield.

Like its sister branch, it's completely vegetarian. Vegan and optionally-vegan dishes (including vegan pizzas) are clearly marked on the menu, as are those that are or can be made gluten-free.

bob visited on a Tuesday lunchtime in February 2013. When I arrived shortly before 1pm there was only one other table seated, but the place filled up during my visit. No music was playing, just the noise of conversation.

I went for the special lunch menu, which offers three courses for £10 photo, starting with the pickled vegetable, cucumber, and rocket salad photo. The veg were pickled quite nicely, and the rocket was fresh.

My main was an oven-baked potato served with cannellini bean ragout photo. This was perfectly decent; the potato was cooked well, and as I'd asked for the vegan option they used olive oil instead of butter to dress it before adding the ragout.

For dessert I had the fruit salad photo; this normally comes with chocolate "crunchies" based on popped rice, but I asked for it without the chocolate and they happily gave it to me with plain crunchies instead. My waiter was careful to make sure I knew that the chocolate was vegan, in case that was why I was asking for it to be left off. The end result was interesting, and I quite liked it.

Both of the two waitstaff on duty were very attentive. Tap water was explicitly offered, though I chose a bottle of mineral water instead (£2.95).

bob's verdict: I'd go back, if only because as a lactose-intolerant person I'd like to try their vegan pizzas.

Accessibility: Can't remember if there were steps, but in any case it's quite cramped inside.

See also:

• bob's photoset on Flickr, including photos of the menu as of February 2013
• Arts London News review

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