Carluccio’s

I came here as I wanted Italian but it had to be somewhere that had parking very nearby as my friend was driving and insisted we drove there and there is parking nearby as I wasn’t feeling too well and my legs were quite weak. We came here and it was good, the food was ok, not amazing, I’ve had better Italian food, the drinks were ok, The dessert could have easily been avoided as I had the Tiramisu but it was tasteless and not worth having at all. The only good thing about this restaurant is the fact you can easily park here but the food is hit and miss as my friend had been here before and even he said it tasted better last time he came. Not sure if I will come back.

Have been here lots of times as I like this chains offerings. They do lots of gluten free options. This particular restaurant is always busy which adds to the atmosphere and the staff are good. They used to sell their balsamic onions to takeaway but no longer offer these which is a shame as they are the best I have ever tasted. They have a small area at the front of the restaurant which sells their products for you to take home. There is a public car park nearby but be careful as I parked on the main road on a bank holiday thinking this as ok but nearly got a ticket. Apparently the parking restrictions here are in force on Bank Holidays.

I’ve always had a mantra with this particular chain — great starters, great puddings — but the mains are so-​so. Well on my most recent trip this began to unravel as I had a great yet simple main and it was on the two course menu as well.
It was just an Italian sausage pasta — which was very similar to an n’duja but not nearly as spicy. The ragu was great and I really like how they do their garlic bread now too. I’ve always rated the Pinner branch as one of the best of the chain, and now with the improvements to the menu it can only get better.

I had a really enjoyable Sunday lunch at Carluccio’s, which tempted me into their establishment with a beautiful bakery window display and promises of a reasonably priced two course lunch.
There are a number of Italian restaurants on High Street in Pinner, but this one has a light and airy atmosphere that set it apart from its compatriots. It looks to have been very carefully renovated, with a clean and organic look, and lovely bathrooms. We did not have to wait to be seated.
My partner and I ordered a Three-​Pastas-​for-​Two-​People tasting menu, which came to 21 pounds even — not bad considering that individual plates of pasta range from 7.5 to 11.5 and the term «tasting menu» is in a way decieving because all three pastas are full size. We selected the Penne Arrabiata, which was fantasticly savoury with Kalamata olives and capers and just the right amount of oil (often this dish is too oily!). We also enjoyed the special Penne with Zucchini and Fried Spinach Balls — I know it sounds odd, but we were intrigued and this dish was surprisingly delicious! The Porcini mushroom pasta, while good, was outshone by the excellence of our two other selections. I’m Italian and cook my own Italian food, so my standards for Italian restaurants are unduly harsh, and I actually really enjoyed everything and would certainly return. I estimate only 15% of Italian restaurants I try reach this mark.
Eagerly looking forward to dessert, my partner ordered an Italian hot chocolate which was excellent and on the lighter side with a good head of foam. I picked the compelling sounding Bicerin — you recieve three little pots which contain espresso (your choice of beans), thick Floretine drinking chocolate, and cream. This was also my ploy to also try the Floretine drinking chocolate which my partner worried might be too intense, though fear not, because it was amazing and would be what I ordered next time. I’m not the biggest fan of say, Café Mocha, so this didn’t radically change my mind about the combination of coffee and chocolate the way I hoped it would. But I did have fun playing with the ratios and experimenting, so I think it’s an excellent way to see if anything could change your mind about that combination.
From the bakery section, my partner had the deep chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream (you may add a scoop of ice cream to any bakery selection for I believe another 1 or 2 pounds) and I had a plum tart. I’m embarrassed to admit I find cream products like custard or, well, cream, slightly intimidating so I deeply enjoyed that the plum tart was simply plum and pastry without any sea of unknown gloopy dairy. The cake was deliciously chocolatey without being overwhelming, which was important since we were having warm chocolate drinks.
The service, while initially seeming to be about one person understaffed (it’s actually quite a large establishment as you start walking towards the back) bounced back as who I assume to be the manager stopped by our table and helped us with our desserts. He was very friendly and attentive.
Technically, my review is a rounded up 4.5, because there are a few nitpicks. Everything is hard surfaces and hardwood, and the tables are packed quite densely in there, which means quite a bit of noise if the restaurant is busy. Secondly, while I believe the food is good enough to warrant the price, it doesn’t give you the swelling feeling of «great value» — just «fair value.»
They have special menus for things like Christmas, and also have a little shop up front along with their bakery that sells a variety of tasty tidbits and coffee.
I’ll definitely return!