La Cucina

Went on a quiet Saturday afternoon as St Germain was shut. La Cucina had two lunch covers went we walked in and that should have set alarm bells ringing. But we entered nevertheless.

We looked at the a la carte menu and decided to go for the two course deal instead. We were greeted with stale ciabatta (no butter either) and shrivelled olives which were stockpiled on a table by the entrance.

My girlfriend had an avocado with gorgonzola to start. It was mushy, tasteless and disgusting; indicating that it had most definitely been pre-staged, frozen and microwaved. Very little doubt about that. I had the crostini with "chicken liver paté". It had the look and taste of tuna with no hint of paté at all, it was dry on the outside and moist on the inside indicating that it too had been staged.

The wine was good though! A little Sicilian number that helped wash the taste of the food away. We weren't looking forward to our main (pumpkin tagliatelle and ragu) so we made our excuses, settled the bill and moved on to Isarn on Upper Street - a wholly more enjoyable experience.

Avoid La Cucina at all costs! Lazy chefs shouldn't be tolerated in an area where there's a good amount of eateries.
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Ben D
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Saturday, August 09, 2008

Although having lived in the Barbican 12 yrs I've only just started eating at La C. I've become a fan as have my dining guests. I think the decor is balanced just right, a hint of posh but homely at same time. True, service is not overly warm but it's just their way, they are not rude. As they see you more often you'll find more interaction. I took my family and 4 yr old niece this week. They couldn't have been more helpful over the little one, bringing small portions and warming milk. Slow.... well try think of it more as laid back in the Italian way. Admittedly tricky in a lunch hour... I would suggest mentioning before sitting that you have 45 mins to eat is that workable for them? Then at least they know you need to get a wriggle on. House wine is very good. The rosemary breadsticks and olives are better than I have had or bought anywhere. The lasagne, bolognese, clam spaghetti, are all very authentic italian. I haven't had food there I haven't liked. Puddings are ok - I don't normally have them - but if you go to Italy and many other European countries you find puds are normally a simple affair, it's us Brits that go for fancy puds. Try it on a romantic evening when you are not in a hurry and you want a restaurant that hits the spot without it looking like you've made too much of an effort!
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Susie
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, August 09, 2008

A party of 22 from the office went on an organised evening with an agreed set meal - ordered the food in advance - when it arrived it was like school dinners just placed in front of you - steak medium-rare when asked if it could be cooked a bit longer the watiress said "how did you ask for it to be cooked" answer - nobody asked - it was merely plonked in front of you - dessert described as a selection from the trolley - it was just a piece of tiramisu whether you wanted it or not.

The restaurant was busy but the staff were not welcoming and it was a dissapointing and expensive evening
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alison petrou
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Friday, August 01, 2008

Had many a night in La Cucina. Good menu great wine.

Would thoroughly recommend it to any of my friends. Sevice is wonderful.

Staff friendly and helpful. If in Smithfield area of London try it.
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Janet Johnson
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 07, 2008

I think is a good place to go and it is not bad value for money. A bit slow in lunch time.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Friday, May 09, 2008

La Cucina continues to be the staple authentic Italian restaurant for me outside Italy. As a regular dinner customer I find the atmosphere to be very much like one large family coming together for a meal.
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JJ Gagnon
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Service so slow we didn't even get to eat lunch!!

My friend and I arrived at 1pm and were seated. It took 15 minutes to just bring us the menu. We waited a further 20 minutes, asking the hostess if we could please order. She kept saying, "someone will be with you shortly". After asking for the third time and still not having our order taken (and given that we both work in the City and have only an hour for lunch) we requested the bill and left - without eating.

Don't go to La Cucina at lunch time if you are in a hurry.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Nice location if you are lucky to catch some evening sun, but if their pizza is any yardstick, not an authentic Italian. Pizza base didn't seem homemade or cooked in a pizza oven - and to make matters worse was slathered in a thick layer of industrial mozerella which tasted of absolutely nothing. Plus my Italian sausage pizza had half a jar of dried Italian herbs and a clump dried chilli dumped on top of it. The base had almost no tomato sauce (surely the cheapest and easiest of ingredients) on it to break the monotony of mozzerella , meaning that it all resembled cheese-coated cardboard. Pointed this out the obvious shortcomings of my meal to the waiter but was greeted with nothing more than a wry grin. What hope do independent places have if they can't match the bland but dependable Pizza Express or Scala? Saying that, this place serves a perfectly acceptable house red (Sangoviese), cheap at £3 and the service was attentive.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Went here for a lunch on Monday. Empty upon arrival and quickly filled up. With an hour lunch available, they took almost 2 hours to get the food prepared and served. Second round of drinks took so long to come the food had been eatena nd we were ready to go. Upon asking if there was any suace of any kind for the steak as it was dry and plain, the waitress stated they were itallian and not mcdonalds, but not only mcdonlads serves meat with somesort of sauce. There was also onto of the normal tip, a £1 charge per person added which was a bit much for the bad service we recieved, as we were not the only people wonderign where our food had gotten to, not to mention that it was cold when it arrived. Our work group will not go there for lunch again
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reality_ - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, July 03, 2007

I and 11 of my work colleagues went to this restaurant for Thursday lunch and between us ordered a fair variety of different dishes, everyone was more than satisfied with the food. It offers good value for money and the portions are adequate in size. The restaurant is not huge by any means but the menu selection is extensive. By about one o’clock the place was just about at full capacity which for a Thursday so soon after New Year is a good sign in itself. Service is swift and efficient although it would help if there was a little bit more warmth in their approach but they are by no means rude. I know wine is always to the individuals taste but we had the cheaper house red which was very good indeed. It was quite nice having a chilled desert trolley to choose from and although the offering is not extensive they were very tasty. They did run out of the berry cheese cake which was surprising as it was quite early on. Overall you really won’t go far wrong booking to eat here and I would recommend it as good food fairly priced. Cost per head approx £30 (Including wine – starter – main course – dessert - coffee). Can not comment on cleanliness of toilets as never used them and I know that many places are badly let down by this
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Keith - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 12, 2007