Trattoria La Ruga

Has this place permanently closed down or is it closed for a re-fit? I walked past on Saturday night and workmen were blacking out the windows, shame if it is as this place was great!
View/Add comments (1)

Dave Preston
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Like the last reviewer I was delighted to see La Ruga doing the special lunch time menu.

My husband & I went in thinking, what a bargain. Being lunch time we thought we would have a glass of wine each, what a shock! The house wine is £5 per glass for 175ml and £7 for 250ml and this is for just very average wine, some of London's top restaurants do not charge this for their house wine.

Whilst the food and the service was very nice, I think they should review their wine prices and quickly. I have been telling people about their lunch time deal, but I know the cost of their wines, would turn people off.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 14, 2008

La Ruga are doing a lunch time special on Satuarday and Sunday lunch times.

£10 for 2 courses, which is really great. Same high standards, served with their lovely vegetables & always a candle on the table. This is a real bargain for £10. I hope lots of people get to know about it and take them up on the offer.
Comment on this reader review

Shaz
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 07, 2008

La Ruga is the place I take my wife when we want a classy, delicious meal in a comfortable environment with very friendly and entertaining staff.

The menu is not huge, but not being fussy eaters my partner and I would rather have what was good at market than a large choice of previously frozen meals.

The quality of the ingredients is evident - the steaks have the texture of real meat, and the fish is clearly fresh. Vegetables are provided as part of the meal - rather than being charged at 4 quid a pop - and are again fresh and expertly cooked.

Prices are in my opinion fair for the type of restaurant, but high for somewhere in Walthamstow: Bear in mind that there aren't *many* restaurants this good in the area...

The staff? Witty, clearly intelligent and generally great fun. Oh - and attentive. Maybe we've just hit it off, but they are a large part of why, writing this, I'm considering going there tonight!

In fact, there is very little to fault. If I had to pick a hole in something it would be that the wine list isn't enormous, and if you have a late booking you might not get a lot of choice.

In all, a delight, and wholeheartedly recommended. Based on my experiences, it's about as good as a small italian restaurant can be: if you don't like it you were probably looking for a different kind of restaurant.

Long may it remain so.
Comment on this reader review

Doctor Mollusc
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, December 13, 2007

I also like La Ruga & would echo the last comment. I would also like to see a more varied wine list, with a larger choice of more reasonable wines.

Now with a new owner, I also hope that they will be a little more festive and at least have a Christmas tree up for the festive season.

It might sound silly, but this has put me off going in at around Christmas time, not even a sprig of holly on show!
Comment on this reader review

Sasha
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, October 12, 2007

I really like La Ruga; it is a really cosy place. I just wish they would change their menu, it has not changed much over the last 5 years, in particular the butterfish. The food is very nice and the vegetables are always lovely, but it is not cheap.

It would be fab if they did a weekend lunch time menu, that was not quite so expensive and I would just love to be able to sit and ponder a menu, whilst having a drink, instead of trying to remember all the dishes read to me from the blackboard, which is written in Italian.

Having said that, the staff are lovely so it would not stop me from eating there, but because of the choices, not quite so often as I would like.
Comment on this reader review

Hopeful
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

What a fabulous find in Walthamstow! Really lives up to the rave reviews. Food is fantastic with good-sized portions and none of this paying for sides business. My only quibble was the limited, expensive wine selection and tiny glasses. However, the large liqueurs and Tirimasu made up for this! We paid about £200 for dinner for 4 including service(and we had the works!).

Would really recommend this place.
Comment on this reader review

Heidi Rossetter
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 07, 2006

I went here on saturday - third time in four months - and it never fails to disapoint. Friendly and welcoming service, a cosy, intimate atmosphere and the food, the food! Wild boar steak for me, while my girlfriend opted for whole sea bream - both absolutely delicious. We were in there for over 3 hours, and had a fantastic time.
Comment on this reader review

A, Walthamstow
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 30, 2006

The indian butter fish, if on the menu, is worth a visit alone!

The menu for the day is on blackboards, in italian, giving the waiters/waitresses a chance to perform their way through it for the non-italian speaking customers. This makes for a true eating event.

Nevermind that Peter, the Greek owner, is a cycling nut and brilliant host who will join your table for a chat and an anecdote or two.

Intimate atmosphere, freshest of ingredients, supporting Essex organic farmers and thankfully near my house.
Comment on this reader review

Stuart
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, July 06, 2006

ive lived round the village for a few years now and most of the local eateries some time or another. on my first visit here i was impressed by the home cooked style of the food and the fresh seasonal feel to menu and promised to return. Sadly i have been let down by the place with the same main stays still on the menu..had the butter fish for the second time and must say it had fallen in standard, not up to stratch at all with the side veg and pot's being the best cooked part of the dish. hopefully i was just unlucky but for the cost of meal not sure im willing to give it another chance. if your going to do rustic food the ingrients and skill to pull it off must be there, sincerly hope it improves as this place is not bad by a long way but could be quite special in the village.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, June 06, 2006