Bank Holiday Weekend at 40 Dean Street
Summer is close and the long weekend is here
The evenings are stretching out, the coats are staying at home, and you have got a bank holiday weekend with nothing in the diary. Most people will spend it drifting between overcrowded parks and pub gardens that ran out of seats two hours ago. You could do that. Or you could sit down in a family-run Italian restaurant on Dean Street and have a meal that feels like a break from the week.
40 Dean Street has been here since 2009, serving Soho’s most loved traditional Italian dinners for almost 20 years. Regulars have their usual table, first-timers leave wishing they had come sooner. A bank holiday is a good excuse to finally book.
What to order
The menu is built around daily handmade pasta, fresh seafood and Italian classics that reward you for taking your time with them. The ravioli lobster in shellfish bisque is rich and indulgent - exactly what a long weekend calls for. The gnocchi with wild mushrooms, smoked mozzarella and truffle oil is earthy and satisfying, and the pappardelle with beef and tomato ragu is the kind of plate you think about the next day.
Start with the burrata and confit plum tomatoes or the pan-fried tiger prawns in shellfish and brandy sauce, and finish with the pistachio tiramisu. You will not regret it.
Cocktails and wine
With summer on the doorstep, a cocktail before dinner sets the right tone for the weekend. Order something cold while you look at the menu, then move on to the wine list. The wine list is mainly Italian and French - reds and whites that pair well with the food. If you are not sure where to start, the team behind the bar will be happy to steer you.
The restaurant
Grab a window seat and watch Dean Street go by while you eat - it is one of the best spots in Soho to sit and take in the neighbourhood, especially when the sun is out. Inside, 40 Dean Street feels like walking into someone's family restaurant in Italy - warm lighting, lived-in walls, truly authentic. It has earned its reputation over two decades by staying consistent and not by chasing trends.
When we are open
Sundays and bank holidays: 12.00 PM to 10.30 PM. Plenty of time for lunch or an early dinner - or both, if the bank holiday has you in that kind of mood.
Where to find us
Dean Street runs through the heart of Soho, a few minutes on foot from Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square. If you are spending the bank holiday exploring the neighbourhood or coming in specifically to eat, it is easy to get to and even easier to order another course.
If you are planning a longer weekend in the area, take a look at our lunch menu or read about our story to see how it all started.