12 West Smithfield
EC1A 9JR
Tel: 020 7329 5904
Date of Last Visit: Wednesday, April 20th
The Victims: Julie, Brian
The Damage: 35 GBP?
Julie and I were having a rough day at the office. I don’t remember why, but we were like, "We need a drink." So we headed over to Smith’s of Smithfield for a beer or two. Brian met us after finding himself on a bus going in the wrong direction, something that happened to me quite frequently during my first few months in town.
One drink turned into another and right before our third, we wisely decided that food was necessary. So we headed over to Carluccio’s, where we had celebrated Julie’s birthday a few weeks earlier.
Carluccio’s is a chain, which I suppose might mean it has a stigma of some sort attached to it. But honestly I find the concept to be wonderfully well-executed. So who cares!
They put us at the big long table, which I love–although I do feel it’s a bit too wide. We gorged on insalata caprese and some various sliced meats. Yummy. Service was friendly and attentive, helped by the fact that I was facing the open kitchen and could easily catch someone’s eye.
I got the risotto–mushroom–which I had also had last time around. It was just as delicious. No need for meat! Julie got the lasagne and gobbled it all up. I believe Brian went for the raviloi, and no complaints were heard.
The Verdict: I like Carluccio’s. If I lived around the corner, I would go here all the time. Particularly if mom or dad were in town. If you skip starters and appetizers, you can get away for cheap!
