Radici is the perfect spot to while away the weekend hours finds Emma Bartholomew - especially with bottomless prosecco at £15.

Giuseppe Cafaro is really proud of the 120 year old starter dough he nabbed from a bakery in his home town Basilica, while his girlfriend was busy sunning herself on the beach.

He uses it to make pinsa – one of the choices on the new brunch menu at Radici, off Upper Street.

A Roman style pizza made from rice flour, it is oval, and is covered in smoked salmon and crème fraiche at one end and prosciutto at the other, with mushrooms, avocado and poached eggs in the middle.

The ingredients are fresh - only added after the base is cooked - and it’s £20 for two to share.

Proved over five days, the low concentration of just two grams of yeast to about 20kg of flour is to ensure the yeast doesn’t start expanding in your tummy and fill you up after just a couple of slices.

It’s clear that Giuseppe is passionate about dough – after all, his grandmother ran a pizzeria in his home town for 45 years.

He had been running owner Franceco Mazzei’s other Mayfair restaurant until he was transferred to the Islington trattoria in Almeida Street to take over as head chef and launch the brunch.

The pinsa is delectable, just like everything else on the menu here, where quality ingredients come first.

With its laid-back atmosphere and rustic terracotta and turquoise interior, reminiscent of the sun-baked landscape of southern Italy, it’s easy to while away the hours on a weekend afternoon here – especially with the option of bottomless prosecco option just £15 per person.

Other dishes include ‘Tuscany meets Puglia’ with pappa pomodoro. The poached eggs melt in your mouth, and the mellow tomato sauce is offset by the more pungent anchovies.

Cannellini bean stew comes with poached eggs and sausage, and there’s a Ciambotta, grilled pumpkin, mushrooms and torpedino tomatoes for veggies.

Radici makes the perfect hideaway from the cold for a lazy and gluttonous weekend.

Brunch is available Saturdays from 11am to 2.30pm, and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.

radici.uk