Other branches of Carluccio's in London:
Fitzrovia (Main Branch), MaryleboneCarluccio's reviews
Noticed beautiful looking breads and pastries in the window of this restaurant and thought it looked like a good place for a Sunday brunch.
Overall, the quality of the food was pretty good but totally let down by bad service/organisation which resulted in my hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, pancetta and mushrooms) being served completely cold and waiting far too long for menus, placing orders, getting coffees and the bill.
It was between 5-10 minutes after we were seated that we received the breakfast menu and could order coffee. The coffees took more than 15 minutes to arrive.
Before the coffees arrived, the chef brought over one (of two ordered) breakfasts. It was fried eggs instead of the scrambled we'd ordered so I assumed it wasn't mine. He proceeded to go from table to table with the plate asking if anyone had ordered fried eggs.
When the scrambled eggs did arrive it was accompanied by a very cold serving of mushrooms, pancetta and toast, with a film of oil on the edge of the plate where I assume the chef had slid the fried eggs from 10 minutes earlier off and replaced them with scrambled eggs.
Being a Sunday, they may have been short a few staff but overall I had the impression that they did not have any good systems in place for taking orders and serving customers. Disappointing. I wouldn't return or recommend this restaurant.
by greenmango, 14 Mar 2010
Overall, the quality of the food was pretty good but totally let down by bad service/organisation which resulted in my hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, pancetta and mushrooms) being served completely cold and waiting far too long for menus, placing orders, getting coffees and the bill.
It was between 5-10 minutes after we were seated that we received the breakfast menu and could order coffee. The coffees took more than 15 minutes to arrive.
Before the coffees arrived, the chef brought over one (of two ordered) breakfasts. It was fried eggs instead of the scrambled we'd ordered so I assumed it wasn't mine. He proceeded to go from table to table with the plate asking if anyone had ordered fried eggs.
When the scrambled eggs did arrive it was accompanied by a very cold serving of mushrooms, pancetta and toast, with a film of oil on the edge of the plate where I assume the chef had slid the fried eggs from 10 minutes earlier off and replaced them with scrambled eggs.
Being a Sunday, they may have been short a few staff but overall I had the impression that they did not have any good systems in place for taking orders and serving customers. Disappointing. I wouldn't return or recommend this restaurant.
by greenmango, 14 Mar 2010
Overall, not great. The food is OK. The service is OK. The real bad point is some of the other customers, but I don't suppose I should hold that against the restaurant. The tables are practically on top of each other and it seems to attract those loud, braying, 'look at me' type of people, who compete to talk over each other about little Tarquin's school fees or their last trip to Val d'Isere. One to avoid, although Islington is devoid of good Italian food, so there aren't many other options.
by StuH "top london reviewer" (39 reviews), 07 Mar 2009
by StuH "top london reviewer" (39 reviews), 07 Mar 2009
This branch has gone down hill in the past few months. It used to be a wonderfully pleasant place offering good food, good service, and good value. Most recently the service had been dreadful. On Christmas Eve my partner and I arrived for lunch. We waited for almost 10 minutes at the entrance before deciding to walk out as not one member of staff greeted us. The week before I asked the waiter for cutlery and was told to get it from another table!! I will never visit this branch again.
by clubvoyage (6 reviews), 07 Jan 2009
by clubvoyage (6 reviews), 07 Jan 2009
Carluccio's (all of the ones I've tried) are always a very reliable place to have great food and a nice romantic meal, or even on your own.
by florenceP (2 reviews), 18 Sep 2008
by florenceP (2 reviews), 18 Sep 2008
Great value Italian food. Unpretentious and friendly. Don't sit near the door in winter though.
by ICOT (8 reviews), 22 Jan 2006
by ICOT (8 reviews), 22 Jan 2006
Nice buzz, friendly staff, easy going style and great food! What more do you want but to ask for a table away from a draughty entrance.
by Anonymous, 23 Oct 2004
by Anonymous, 23 Oct 2004
Aside from Ferrari's deli on Cross Street, Islington has needed something like this for a long time.
It's (understandably) Italian-focussed, with a pleasant cafe/snack area behind the main deli section. It's open late, so a great place to come after the cinema when most restaurants have stopped serving and it's a choice of the chain pubs of Upper Street, or just going home.
They have a small, but nice selection of luxury food gifts too - I have to admit that I bought many Christmas presents for friends and distant relations here on Christmas eve. Everybody was delighted with their jars of Italian chocolates, so I may do the same next year by design, rather than simple lack of planning.
by Mark Cowan (14 reviews), 08 Mar 2004
It's (understandably) Italian-focussed, with a pleasant cafe/snack area behind the main deli section. It's open late, so a great place to come after the cinema when most restaurants have stopped serving and it's a choice of the chain pubs of Upper Street, or just going home.
They have a small, but nice selection of luxury food gifts too - I have to admit that I bought many Christmas presents for friends and distant relations here on Christmas eve. Everybody was delighted with their jars of Italian chocolates, so I may do the same next year by design, rather than simple lack of planning.
by Mark Cowan (14 reviews), 08 Mar 2004
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