Giulia

A neighbourhood Italian in Shepherd's Bush that punches well above its price point

For a small, evening-only Italian in west London, that is a serious track record. If you are looking for precise, market-driven Italian cooking without the central London premium, book here.

Giulia opens Tuesday through Friday from 5:30 pm, with Friday and Saturday running until 10 pm. It is closed Sunday and Monday. The format is dinner only, which tells you something about how the kitchen operates: this is not a casual all-day spot but a focused evening restaurant where the team controls quality tightly across a short, regularly changing menu. For food-focused visitors exploring beyond the obvious central London Italian options like Luca, Bocca di Lupo, or Bancone, the trip to W12 is worth making.

What the cooking is actually like

The menu is short and rotates with the season, which is a reliable signal that the kitchen is buying well rather than running a static crowd-pleaser list. Confirmed dishes from the record include seared octopus with cauliflower, creamy potato and 'nduja sauce, which appears regularly enough to be considered a fixture. Baked courgette flower filled with ricotta with a courgette salad is a seasonal option that appears when supply allows. On the mains side, veal cotoletta alla milanese and a roast lamb rack with braised shoulder, peas and asparagus have both drawn strong praise. The seafood paccheri is cited as a standout among the pasta options. Focaccia and gelato are made in-house, the tiramisu has attracted the kind of unsolicited enthusiasm that is hard to manufacture. The wine list is all-Italian and described as affordable, which at this price tier is a genuine advantage over restaurants that use the list to recover margin.

The front of house is led by Giulia Quaglia, described consistently as a warm and engaged presence rather than a transactional one. In a room this size, the personality of the floor team shapes the experience as much as the food, the feedback here is consistently positive on that front.

On the editorial angle: does Giulia travel well?

Pearl editorial angle asks about takeout and delivery, the honest answer is: this is not how Giulia is designed to be experienced. The cooking here leans on fresh pasta, seasonal produce, in-house made components including the focaccia and gelato. Dishes like seared octopus with 'nduja sauce or a veal cotoletta alla milanese are built around texture and timing that do not survive a delivery journey intact. If you are considering Giulia as a delivery option, redirect that impulse toward booking a table instead. The value of this restaurant is in eating the food as it leaves the kitchen, in a room where the team knows what they are doing. For Italian food that does translate well to takeaway, the broader London restaurants guide has options worth checking. Giulia is not that kind of venue, it is better for it.

How it fits in the London Italian picture

West London has a cluster of strong neighbourhood Italians, Giulia sits near the best of that group. Its sister restaurant Moëca is around the corner, which gives the Askew Road area a genuine dining identity rather than a single destination. For those exploring the broader London food scene, our guides to London bars, London hotels, and London experiences are useful complements. Pasta-focused alternatives in other neighbourhoods worth knowing include Artusi in Peckham and Archway. For Italian cooking at a different scale internationally, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and cenci in Kyoto show where the format goes at higher price points.

Practical details

Reservations: Book in advance; walk-in counter seats at the bar are kept for drop-ins but fill quickly. Booking is rated Easy. Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5:30–9 pm, Friday to Saturday 5:30–10 pm, Sunday and Monday closed. Address: 77 Askew Rd, London W12 9AH. Budget: ££, dinner only. Wine: All-Italian list, described as affordable. Dress: No formal dress code noted; neighbourhood casual is appropriate.

Ratings and recognition

• Opinionated About Dining Casual: Ranked #392 (2024), #446 (2025)
• Opinionated About Dining Gourmet Casual: Ranked #197 (2023)
• Michelin Plate (2024)

FAQ

Is the tasting menu worth it at Giulia?

Giulia does not appear to operate a formal tasting menu format. The offering is a short à la carte that changes regularly. At the ££ price point, the value-per-dish ratio is strong, ordering across the menu; starting with octopus or a seasonal vegetable dish, moving to pasta, then a main; is effectively how most guests eat here. That structure gives you the range of a tasting menu without the commitment.

Does Giulia handle dietary restrictions?

No specific dietary restriction policy is confirmed in the available data. Given the short, seasonal menu, it is worth contacting the restaurant directly before booking if you have significant dietary requirements. The menu does feature both meat and seafood-forward dishes, with pasta across multiple styles.

Can I eat at the bar at Giulia?

Yes. Counter seats at the bar are held back for walk-ins. This is your leading option if you have not booked, but arrive early: the restaurant fills quickly and those seats go fast, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings when service runs until 10 pm.

What should a first-timer know about Giulia?

It is a small neighbourhood restaurant, not a destination dining room. Come expecting a short menu that changes with the market, tight service, a genuinely Italian-focused wine list. The seared octopus with 'nduja is a reliable order. Pasta is a strength. Book ahead if you want a table; the bar is your fallback.

Is lunch or dinner better at Giulia?

Giulia does not serve lunch. The kitchen opens at 5:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. If you are planning around a daytime schedule, this is a dinner-only venue. For the leading atmosphere and the longest service window, Friday or Saturday evening gives you until 10 pm.

What are alternatives to Giulia in London?

For neighbourhood Italian at a similar price point, Artusi in Peckham and Archway are worth considering. For pasta-led formats with more central locations, Bancone is reliable and easier to reach from Zone 1. If you want to move up in price and formality, Luca in Clerkenwell is the natural step up. Bocca di Lupo in Soho offers more regional breadth across the Italian canon.

Is Giulia good for a special occasion?

It works well for a low-key special occasion, particularly a birthday dinner or an anniversary where the priority is genuinely good food over theatrical presentation. The room is small and the service personal, which creates intimacy without formality. At ££ with Michelin Plate recognition, you are getting a calibre of cooking that justifies the occasion without the expense of a ££££ room. If you need a larger group or a private dining space, confirm availability directly before booking.