Rucoletta Restaurant Review

The venue  

Crisp, cloudy and quiet are some of the way I would describe the onset of that Friday evening. I journeyed to London’s St Paul’s to meet a friend for a night filled with Italian delicacies and drinking when I spotted the restaurant after almost getting lost in the capital’s hustle and bustle (it didn’t help that I could barely see due to not wearing my glasses…). Crimson red in exterior, small in appearance and dimly-lit, sat Rucoletta, situated within a closed off, quiet street. I was greeted by the host – a warm, friendly and polite man who led me down into a cosy basement dining area where my friend awaited my arrival.

The food

Once settled with greetings and ‘how are you’s?’ done, I spent a considerable amount of time browsing through the extremely affordable set menu, which although screams ‘limited choice’ was full of a good selection of dishes for both starter and main – dessert possessed only 2 options however. The A La Carte menu on the other hand, equally boasted a tonne of dishes from starters and mains to pastas and dessert – you are bound to find something delicious!

I eventually settled on the polpettone al sugo (veal and beef meatloaf stuffed with ham and mozzarella served with peppers and olives) to start while my guest went for the bruschetta al Pomodoro (homemade toasted bread topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic olive oil and basil). Prior to the arrival of our starters, we were brought (what we believed to be complimentary) juicy Sicilian green olives and a basket of bread, which we now know was an aperitive that was to be paid for. The olives were moreish – olives are always a yes for me, both black and green (I don’t discriminate) while the bread was a selection of some plain and some stuffed with sun dried tomatoes.

My starter was scrumptious and I could have easily eaten three portions! Moist, rich and flavoursome with a little tang from the tomato sauce drizzled over it and a great portion size; the use of ham was a great addition not just from a flavour perspective but also because it kept the meatloaf nice and juicy during the cooking process preventing it from drying out. This coupled with the richness from the melted mozzarella and sautéed olives, capers and peppers was a mouth-watering medley my mouth enjoyed! Despite how delicious my starter was, my friend’s bruschetta was the best out of both dishes; simple, sweet and tart in taste with a great crunch from the door-step thick toasted homemade bread – divine. The added touch of the garlic, mild basil and drizzle of olive oil elevated the dish making it memorable for all the right reasons!

For main course I went simple for the tagliatelle alla Bolognese (fresh homemade pasta with Bolognese sauce) whereas my friend went for the filetto di spigola (pan-fried sea bass with rosemary and tomato concasse). Simple sometimes is best and this was reflected in my choice of main – ribbons of delicious homemade pasta coated in a rich, tomato based meat sauce. However, it could have done with a dash of salt to amplify the flavours even more and make it amazing. The sea bass, although flaky, was lacking in taste despite the sizeable portion and lovely presentation; meanwhile the claim of having rosemary within the tomato concasse is one I fail to agree with as I could barely taste it.

Throughout the course of our evening, the staff were polite, professional and accommodating – the host particularly offered a memorable service with how patient and kind he was (after encountering a techy issue with the Wi-Fi connection). This made for an even more enjoyable evening and allowed us to feel comfortable during our visit.

Once the plates were cleared, came the question of what to have for dessert… ‘that should be easy, only 2 options’ you might exclaim, and rightly so! Tiramisu always (sometimes, it depends) whereas, my friend opted for nothing due to his vegan dietary requirement. As someone that has visited a good number of Italian restaurants (both independent and chains) I have had a fair amount of tiramisu’s, which have varied – some luscious and some lacklustre in taste. The tiramisu served at Rucoletta is one I will never forget – a dish renowned for its richness due to the butter-like mascarpone, was light and creamy with that unique taste of coffee liquor and cocoa powder. Incredible! My friend and I that were engaged in a full-on conversation but I could not commit fully to it as I was in such awe of how light the tiramisu was (it’s important to note that I was not under the influence of alcohol at this point).

Final thoughts

Rucoletta was a great experience overall. I recommend that you visit – it’s perfect for those on a budget as the set dinner menu is only £19.95pp for a 3-course meal (yes, you read that right! Less than £20!). The winning dishes for me will have to be the meatloaf, bruschetta and tiramisu without a doubt. The service was superb and the restaurant surrounding was intimate and warm – perfect for date nights.

 

Rucoletta Restaurant

6 Foster Lane, London

EC2V 6HH

The Solo Foodie