The Coast in a Bowl
Few plates say "southern Italy" as directly as spaghetti alle vongole. It is simple by design - clams, garlic, oil, a little heat - and it lives or dies on the quality of the shellfish. ALBA's version, at the Amalfi-inspired Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge opposite Harrods, keeps the classic intact and adds one coastal flourish: a grating of bottarga.
How ALBA Makes It
The dish stays true to the Neapolitan original: clams opened in garlic, good olive oil and a hit of chilli, tossed through spaghetti with the clam liquor that gathers at the bottom of the pan - no cream anywhere near it, which is exactly how the coast makes it. The finishing touch is bottarga, cured fish roe grated over the top, which deepens the salinity and doubles down on the sea. Keep a little bread back for the broth at the bottom of the bowl; that is where the flavour pools.
Where It Sits on the Menu
Vongole is one of the coastal pastas that anchor ALBA's seafood cooking, sitting among the hand-made pastas and the wider raw-bar and fish offering. It is a mid-meal plate rather than a heavy finish - enough to satisfy without closing the evening down - and it pairs naturally with a bright southern-Italian white from the menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spaghetti alle vongole?
It is a classic Italian pasta of spaghetti with clams, garlic, olive oil and chilli. ALBA finishes its version with bottarga - grated cured fish roe - for extra depth.
Does ALBA's vongole have a tomato or cream sauce?
No. It is made in the traditional style - clams, garlic, oil and chilli, bound by the clams' own liquor, with no cream and no tomato.
What is bottarga?
Bottarga is cured, pressed fish roe, grated or shaved over a dish. It adds a concentrated, savoury saltiness - a hallmark of southern Italian and island cooking.
Where can I eat spaghetti alle vongole in Knightsbridge?
At ALBA London, 70 Brompton Road, opposite Harrods - on the pasta menu, made in the coastal style with clams, bottarga, garlic and chilli.
Where is ALBA London?
At 70 Brompton Road, London SW3 1ER, directly opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge.
