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From left: Luciano and Franco Boggi and waiter Jose Sanmartin
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Fantastic family Italian restaurant
HOW very refreshing and reassuring to visit a classic establishment
run by the same family since 1976. From Tuscany, near Lucca,
Paolo and Virginia started Trattoria Lucca and is now run by
their sons Luciano and Franco. Their wives and children all
help and the family atmosphere is impressive.
Paolo at 84 is a youthful, charming man who seemed very
much in control of the bar helped by a younger member of the
family.
The restaurant, which sits 60, occupies three rooms with a small
bar at the entrance. The tables are set with two tablecloths:
a crisp white on a beautiful turquoise and wooden chairs with
comfortable soft cushions.
With good support from residents, Trattoria Lucca deserves to
be in the list of destination restaurants patronised by visitors
to the many areas of interest in Camden.
The small à la carte menu which includes classic dishes
such as Bressaola, Prosciutto e Melone, Mozzarella and Tomato
Salad, Sea Bass in Fennel Sauce, Pollo Sorpresa, Penne all Arrabiata,
Fegato alla Salvia, and Tournedos Rossini, is complimented by
the dishes of the day which are written on a blackboard and
brought and displayed on a chair next to you. You can take your
time reading it. No rush.
However, if you had a lunch or dinner appointment they would
serve you quite quickly.
When we asked for a glass of water a large cold one arrived
“on the house”. No pressure to buy bottled water,
a rarity nowadays. Also the choice of any two vegetables or
a salad is included in the price of any meat or fish main course.
No charge is made for the bread and butter nor the panini.
So for a home-away-from-home evening try their fresh asparagus
(£4.95) and their homemade excellent minestrone (£3.50).
We then had the Linguini alla Pescatora (£6.50) which
was one of the dishes of the day and the Scaloppine di vitello
Marsala. These came accompanied by sautéed potatoes and
mange tout.
They have a selection of deserts from the trolley but I asked
if the chef could prepare zabaglione for us. Chef Ramon, who
has been at Trattoria Lucca for 12 years, presented us with
two large glasses filled with the most delicious warm zabaglione.
Their house white wine Castelli Romani is dry and very good.
At £9.75 per bottle, it must be one of the best buys in
London. Head waiter Martin, who has worked at Trattoria Luca
for many years, recommended the espresso with a zambuca to finish
our meal.
I was delighted to see that the zambuca was properly served
with coffee beans that had been lit. I always eat the beans.
I have been many times at this restaurant and have always been
happy there. This visit was no exception. Carry on the good
the work!
Trattoria Lucca
63 Parkway, NW1
020 7485 6864 |
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