The Tip Line: Scotti's Snack Bar

Your weekly high-low recommendation on what to eat or drink in London.

What: Chicken escalope sandwich and cappelletti in brodo

When: Weekday lunchtimes (closed on weekends)

Where: Scotti’s Snack Bar, 38 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU

Scotti’s Snack Bar is a temple of nostalgia for normal life, standing stoically on Clerkenwell Green since 1967. Formica and chrome, wood and glass, a well-worn tiled floor, and fading bright colours frame a mid-century modern time-warp. A prehistoric tea urn hums on the counter, and the genuine warmth radiating from the staff feels like a small miracle. Depending on your food media diet, recommending Scotti’s will either feel like uncovering a secret or like teaching you to suck eggs — but either way, here we are.

But this isn’t a museum piece: Scotti’s is alive and kicking. One morning you might overhear a group of black cab drivers bemoaning last night’s Arsenal result or Islington Council’s commitment to blocking off every shortcut. Another day, at lunchtime, you’re surrounded by yuppies from the surrounding Clerkenwell architecture and design studios, with a posh older couple perched outside, watching it all go by while they slurp their tea.

In such a divided time, these slice-of-life places feel increasingly rare — small miracles of community that deserve to be treasured. It doesn’t hurt that the food at Scotti’s is exceptionally good and executed with great care.

the milanese aka the chicken escalope ciabatta (as it comes)

cappelletti in brodo, a roll, and a reassuringly strong cup of builders.

There’s no menu (it’s all in Al’s head) but the showstoppers here are the chicken escalope sandwich and the cappelletti in brodo. The chicken for the escalope - or schnitzel, if you like - is boned, skinned, bashed, and breadcrumbed in-house each morning, then fried throughout the day to satisfy the throng of patrons spilling out onto the Green at lunchtime. It comes on a freshly baked ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayo, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

On a cooler day, go for the cappelletti in brodo — little hat-shaped pasta stuffed and floating in a rich, house-made beef and chicken bone broth, dusted with black pepper, finely chopped curly parsley, and parmesan. A bronzed, shiny roll and a portion of salted butter arrive alongside. It’s deeply nourishing and feels like it could solve any ailment.

Scotti’s Snack Bar is only open on weekdays. Maybe you work in the area, maybe you’re a freelancer, maybe you’re retired, maybe you’re on maternity leave, maybe you’re a student, maybe you’re unemployed, maybe you’re on vacation. Whoever you are, you should find a weekday to go.

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