If you’ve ever been to Catherine Street during Christmas, you’ll see the Theatre Royal’s pantomime—a gloriously silly show where men dress as women, and audience members scream “He’s behind you!” at a flying fairy. Jamie Oliver, being the cheeky Essex lad he is, once allegedly tried to get a panto job as the “Clumsy Chef Fairy” but was told his pizza dough would gum up the trapdoor. Imagine him juggling wooden spoons while the Dame cracks jokes about his love of olive oil—classic London chaos.
But let’s talk about the actual restaurant. Jamie’s Italian on Catherine Street was a buzzing hub of “pappardelle this” and “balsamic that”, with waiters who could recite the menu faster than a West End actor reciting Hamlet. One reviewer swore they saw Jamie himself pop out of the kitchen to personally scold a customer for eating a burger with a knife and fork. “Use your hands, mate! This isn’t a bloody opera!” he supposedly shouted, before handing them a napkin shaped like a swan.
Jamie Oliver Catherine St, London - Restaurant Review, Menu, Opening Times
Why This Street Deserves a Standing Ovation
Here’s the kicker: Catherine Street is only about 200 meters long, but it packs more drama than a reality cooking show. You’ve got the stage door where celebrities like Nicole Kidman have emerged, only to be outshone by Jamie Oliver’s food truck parked illegally outside. “Sorry, luv, I’m feeding the actors!” he’d chirp to a parking warden, handing them a free slice of focaccia. That warden probably ate it and let him off with a warning—because nobody arrests the man who invented the “pukka” pea pesto.
And speaking of surprising facts, did you know that the original Jamie’s Italian on Catherine Street used to serve a dish called “Jamie’s Dreamy Macaroni”? It was so rich that one diner claimed it cured their jet lag. Another patron swore they saw the ghost of a Victorian actress haunting the walk-in fridge, demanding a tasting of the tiramisu. “She said it was too boozy,” a waiter whispered to me. True story: Jamie later added an extra shot of espresso to the recipe, just in case.
Jamie Oliver Catherine St Restaurant - London, , Greater London | OpenTable
Now, the restaurant closed in 2019—gasp!—but don’t cry into your balsamic vinegar yet. Jamie’s legacy on Catherine Street lives on in the form of a plaque where locals still leave offerings of ripe avocados and leftover pancetta. Honestly, it’s like a tiny shrine to his charisma, right next to a bench where a busker plays “O Sole Mio” on a kazoo. Authentic? Maybe not. Entertaining? Absolutely.
If you ever visit Catherine Street, skip the play and head to where Jamie once reigned—ask the bartender at the pub next door about “that time the chef tried to teach a pigeon to roll pasta dough.” They’ll laugh, pour you a pint, and tell you the pigeon actually succeeded. Now that’s a West End plot twist you didn’t see coming.
So, next time you’re in London, take a detour from the boring tourist traps. Walk down Catherine Street, imagine Jamie Oliver in a chef’s hat and apron, waving from a window, and remember: Life is too short for bad bread and boring streets. Plus, you might just catch a whiff of garlic and the ghost of a pantomime cow—which isn’t a bad combo, really.
