At just three months old, Bombetta has already made its mark on the Wanstead foodie trail. But is there proof in the pudding?

Reporter Lara Keay finds out.

There is barely time to count to three when you get off the train at Snaresbrook Station before you stumble across Bombetta’s unusual mini terrace.

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While opening up a restaurant a stone’s throw away from a busy Tube station might seem strange to some, it has made sure most people in this quiet pocket of east London have given it a try.

Greeted by one of owners Ben and Joana’s smiling staff we sat down at the bar, where we were in full view of three busy Italian chefs fiercely working away to keep up with their evening service.

The couple bagged the premises earlier this year, and one third is home to their wholesale business The Chef’s Deli and two thirds to Bombetta.

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The word itself refers to a grilled meat concept from the Puglia region of Italy, which usually sizzles on a grill with small bits of cheese hidden inside.

After an appetiser of olives and pig’s-head bruschetta, we were given duck prosciutto with grapefruit, honey and paprika dressing to start (£6). 

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The duck was served in thick slices with basil on top and the sweetness of the marinade complimented it perfectly.

But little did we know the second starter of veal fillet served with a creamy tuna, anchovy, caper and mayonnaise sauce (£9.50) would outdo the first within minutes.

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Although a little pricey for a starter, the rare veal combined with the dreaminess of that sauce was totally worth it – a must-order.

Before we got stuck into our main, we were also given a cute little plate of orecchiette Puglian pasta, served with wild mushrooms and luxury truffle butter (£8).

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Strangely for an Italian restaurant, it is the only pasta dish on offer. But with so much meat, the creamy mushroom mix went down very well.

As we sipped our glasses of Ripe Sangiovese (£24.60 a bottle) we could not believe what was coming next.

The chefs pulled out all the stops for our main, piling joint on top of patty on top of sausage to create a fabulous Bombetta platter.

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Accompanied by some hipster courgette fries (£4.50), bread and salad, the star of the show was undoubtedly the pork stuffed with truffle pecorino cheese and porcini mushroom paste (£16).

You cannot go far wrong with such an indulgent mix of meat and cheese, which, accompanied by a few fennel sausages (£3), a well-seasoned lamb chop (£5), and yet more lamb (£14), were perfectly cooked and very easily scoffed.

Although we did not order it ourselves, the hot smoked salmon direct from Wanstead Fish has equally high reviews.

Despite our meaty cheesy overload, we still had room for a semifreddo with strawberries and balsamic vinegar (£7) for desert.

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After such a rich dinner, I definitely could not have managed the chocolate torte with salted caramel gelato (£7), so enjoyed my light mascarpone-based pud instead.

After launching its new menu, Bombetta is now also serving brunch at weekends – an Italian take on the full English.

You can get your morning coffee anytime from 7am and lawyers at Snaresbrook Crown Court along with other busy people can grab an express lunch during the week.

With trendy décor and smiling staff to match the menu, the only criticism I could find was the chef’s reminder of how cold Wanstead is compared to being at home in Sardinia.

Bombetta is open seven days a week in Station Approach, Snaresbrook, while The Chef’s Deli opens from 11am to 7pm on Fridays and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays.