A nice a place to stuff your face.

The Venue
Occupying two spaces on Stroud Green Road, the restaurant makes good use of its long facade with large, bright yellow signs and a prominently displayed gelato case.

The venue is divided down the middle into two: the first section is where the wood-finished, marbled-topped bar sits. This area is furnished with comfortable couches, dim lights and a big screen TV used primarily during soccer season. The second section extends to the kitchen at the back, making it twice the size of the first. This area is made up of dark wooden furniture worn with use and age (a good sign for a restaurant), and a massive red-bricked oven - the restaurant's centerpiece. Looking around the walls, there is not a space unadorned with Italian memorabilia or pictures of Italian stars.

The Atmosphere
The friendly and efficient service, dim lighting and rowdy atmosphere renders Pizzeria Pappagone a popular place for dates, meals with friends, family and kids; dates can camouflage comfortably into the boisterous ambience and parents won't have to worry about kids eating or occupying themselves - the gelato always does the trick. Being in Pizzeria Pappagone is like sitting in your Italian grandma's unsually large kitchen with your unusually large family. Although the manager and waitstaff may come across as overeager to please, a little time will prove them to be genuinely hospitable Italians.

The Food
Don't bother looking for the specials menu - there isn't one here: the kitchen has hardly any leftovers to get rid off to have to sell their food with a special price. This is can be hard to believe, but it all becomes clear when the portions come in large overflowing plates of pasta and seafood, or whatever you're ordering. And even then, every last morsel is coveted.

The menu may seem daunting with over twenty dishes in each category (yes, even the pizzas), but it won't be a couple of visits before you find yourself strategy, or realize that the always succulent Cozze alla Marinara is a must. You will also learn that the choice between the thin-crust, crispy yet slightly doughy brick-oven-baked-to-order pizza and satisfying plate of al dente pasta is the hardest to make.

The Drink
At £2.50, the house wine is pretty much a staple although it isn't impressive. But if you are willing to fork out a bit more, there is a decent selection to pick from (from the modest £8.95 bottle of house wine to a £40 Veuve Cliquot). Similarly, you could go in the other direction and pick an imported beer or one of their standard cocktails.

The Last Word
True Italian hospitality with good food that comes in generous portions for very

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