Widely tipped as the new culinary center of London, Tooting’s culinary footprint is extending fast. The latest edition to the emerging gastro-capital comes in the shape of Livio and Lorenzo Belpassi’s eponymous Belpassi Bros restaurant.

Following a culinary crusade across Northern and Central Italy in search of the perfect meatball recipe, brothers Livio and Lorenzo conceived Belpassi Bros meatball company. A series of creative collaborations followed including a month-long House of Peroni pop-up, a partnership with The Doodle Bar, and a menu within Bites, Camera, and Action Union Street Café. 2015 also saw the family duo further their reach with the acquisition of a vintage 1967 Fiat van, quickly becoming a favourite of London’s iconic Old Spitalfields Market.

So what was formally a meatball truck, Belpassi Bros Tooting is the permanent interpretation of the brothers’ vintage Italian-inspired culinary hub. Focusing on handmade meatballs, using natural and high quality local ingredients, the 40 cover venue is tipped to be a neighbourhood favourite.

The menu may be largely meatball focused there are also a few additional ingredients sourced from across Italy and the UK including salumi and cheeses along with aperitivi such as pea and ricotta bruschetta and burrata with black olives and pepper. Dessert is short and simple with classics such as tiramisu and ice cream.

Italian wines available by the glass (from £4.75) and by the bottle (from £19) include Sangiovese, Primitivo, Valpolicella Ripasso, and sweet Lambrusco Rosso.

70 Tooting High St, London SW17 0RN