Located in Covent Garden, my BFF and I stopped in one night for the chicken liver pate and calamari appetizer to start. The chicken liver pate was really good and I wanted to get another one but had already ordered the pasta, so had to refrain from doing so. We ordered the ravioli spinach e ricotta and the tagliolini napolenta. The pastas were done really well and quite filling. Definitely coming back for the chicken liver pate. I can eat that and be very happy. read more

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The worst coffe and service possible! The place is nice but the service is rude, the coffe expensive and they had no sugar!!! They didn't even bother to tell me before I paid! They also insisted to have us seated but we wanted the coffe to go. Very bad experience, stay away! read more

The service was good, however the food lacked major flavor. The chef didn't add the basic salt and pepper neccessary for any dish. My brother's dish, seafood pasta, and my lamb rigatoni had no taste. I did appreciate their allergy accommodations. I had a dairy/egg allergy, and they gave me a modified "dairy free" menu that was helpful! read more

My wife really enjoyed her penne guardiniera and I found my beef ragu delightful. Especially, the crispy parma ham in my meal was full of flavors - jerky-chewy and perfectly accompanied the soft beef sauce. Oh, and their crispy calamari appetizer comes with a surprisingly good mayonnaise with just enough tangy touch of lemon. So good! Since my wife loved it so much, maybe I'd be back in the future. Our server Mandor with awesome italian accent was so nice and sweet. He maden our experience here more memorable. Come check this place out! read more

Carluccio's - Mandor the man! Our server was awesome. - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

Carluccios! It's that Italian chain restaurant with the nice design and the simple pasta dishes. The one that feels a bit posh, somehow, while somehow also being oddly disappointing every time you go there. Normally I wouldn't bother reviewing a basically fine-to-middling chain restaurant, but I think it's worth mentioning, at this time of year, how terrible the Christmas Menu is in case you're thinking of having your work departmental lunch there, as we did. Folks, it's awful. For thirty-five quid, this is what I got: 1. Antipasti. The menu boasts of 'baked ricotta'. This is a tiny cold disc of cheese approximately the size of a fifty pence piece. One disappointing bite and it's gone. There's some prosciutto, which is fine, and finocchiona salami, which tastes like bog-standard salami with no fennel. A scattering of caponata and some crispbread rounds out a fridge-cold plate of 'will this do'. 2. For a five-pound supplement, 'Steak and Truffle', which I ask for medium-rare. The steak is tough, cold and overcooked to medium-well. The 'truffle butter' is just a pat of butter which at one point in its life might have heard an anecdote about mushrooms. There is a small sad pile of 'rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes', which are soggy little nuggets of sadness which do not taste of garlic or rosemary. It's what you might expect to get served as a roast potato in hospital. On the side is a pile of dry, wizened rocket with no dressing at all. 3. Panettone 'with vin santo syrup and vanilla ice cream'. Perhaps the vin santo syrup has absconded with the fennel, truffles, garlic and rosemary, because this is a Carluccios panettone with some vanilla ice cream. And I mean, that's fine - the cake is fine, the ice cream is fine. But still. Thirty-five quid. Look, I know it's not easy to do lunch for, like, twenty people at once, even ordering in advance. But does it have to feel like such a cynical, lazy rip-off? read more

A friend who grew up in London suggested this to me today as a great place to get what we Americans like to call "brunch" that odd meal that is a combination of breakfast and lunch. Carluccio's has a number of locations in London- but this is their flagship location. Located in Covent Garden just about a block from the Tube Station at Leicester Square, Carluccio's is located in an old building and uses all three stories with a beautiful worn stone staircase curving up and around to the upper dining area. The place was packed (obviously everyone had the same idea) so it took awhile to get seated. Also- know that this is not a quiet restaurant so know before you go if you are looking for a quiet dining experience you won't find it here. Once seated- I had to wait about 25 minutes before I was able to flag someone down to see about placing my order. While apologetic- I watched table after table try to get our server's attention to no avail. I wanted to order Eggs Benedict but they had run out of hollandaise sauce (odd since it is made with eggs and lemon juice and some spices which a restaurant surely must have) but I went along with it and ordered scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomatoes and ham instead. The food came up promptly although the toast that was described on the menu was actually under the food rather than served on the side. It was all very salty which was also surprising given the movement toward lowered sodium in the UK. I decided to redeem my visit (and get the salt taste out of my mouth) with a dish of strawberry gelato which was absolutely delicious (what can be wrong with gelato of any flavor, I ask you?) All in all . .a bit pricey for what you get and I wish the service had been better. But as for that gelato? I'd go back in a second! read more

This is probably the Carluccios with the most individual interior, compared to the usual design of the other Carluccios dotted around London. It is set in a beautiful building over two floors, with winding stair cases and high ceilings. The food is consistently good in all the restaurants in the chain, but this is the place to go for the nicest atmosphere. read more

Carluccio's - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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The location is great, which is around the corner from Covent Garden Market. They have good seating options and it's suitable for big groups. The variety of food is average. read more

Carluccio's - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Okay. we came here for lunch today with my family becuse it's near Covent Garden. We sat down after 5 minute. Olive oil was amazing. but the service is slow. Waited 30 minutes our dish to come out. The salad dressing was very refreshing. The chicken risotto was somewhat blend. My thought the truffle flavor was missing. The sausage pasta was good. read more

Shared the Tasting Trio for Two. Tried the Pasta con Funghi, Gnocci al Goronzola, & Penne Giardiniera. All were delicious! Great places for dinner & wine with coworkers or friends. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere. Was with a group 6, we ordered a seafood linguine, spaghetti carbonara, duck pappardelle and lamb alla griglia to share. The food was amazing my favourite was the duck pappardelle! Would definitely recommend trying the fresh lemonade!! Good place to go for a special occasion or even just for lunch! read more

Carluccio's - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

We were walking towards Covent Garden and were lured in by a waiter offering samples of pizza. The prix fixe menu seems like a good deal. Restaurant also had free wi-fi read more

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Delicious dinner, great food, great service! We hadn't booked in advance, but didn't mind the wait. We started by sharing the calamari [or should I say "fighting" over the calamari]. I ordered the Lamb Gremolata. I wasn't sure how they would feel about my asking not to have the olives and capers, as I am such a lamb fan. They were fine with that, and my lamb was perfection. I didn't plan on ordering any dessert, but Teresa, our wonderful server, convinced me otherwise. I had the Affogato Amaretto. Yummy! Thanks Teresa, for excellent service. Thanks Carluccio's for a lovely evening. read more

Since, I had had such a decent experience at the Carluccio's in Pinner. when my husband wanted to eat Italian, I had no hesitation in recommending the Carluccio's that was next door in Covent Garden. The place was buzzing They occupy 3 floors, with washrooms in the basement, the store and one seating space on the ground floor and 2 seating spaces on the first floor. The place was full and we thought that was an indication of how good it was. Sadly, the crowds belied the quality. The calamari fritti that I had loved at the Pinner location, was soggy and soaked in oil. The antipasto had only meat on the platter unlike what was suggested on the menu. We had to ask for some bread to be served with the cold meats. Our request for olive oil, never materialised. We ordered the trio of pastas, including the heavily recommended ravioli. There was absolutely no hint of the sage in the dish and it felt like the ravioli had just been tossed in melted butter rather than butter browned with sage. When we brought this to the servers attention, he promised to get us a fresh plate properly made or to give us complimentary coffee, but we turned it down, since we knew we would not be able to finish the other two pastas that were quite good. The tortelloni with braised venison and the papardelle with mushroom, both of which had much more flavour to them and were much better tasting. The servers were doing their best, but they were just too badly over worked. Too many tables and not enough staff. Plus the food had to be brought up to the first floor from the ground floor, turning it slightly cold in the meanwhile. This was my first bad experience at Carluccios. I have since had horrible non service at Hampstead & less than average food at St Pancras. I loved Carluccios in Dubai. But never again in London read more

Love this place. Good food. Could be a bit cheaper for what they server.Check it out ... Its kewl read more

The most TERRIBLE service and restaurant experience I have ever encounter because of the following things: 1. The waiter did not understand our order and therefore when I was eating my main meal my husband was eating nothing because he had eaten his main meal when I was eating my starter. 2. I had a small fly in my glass. 3. I had to wait about 30 mins for main meal after my starter. 4. By the time I had finished my main meal I was quite angry and could not have the (esspresso) drink as part of the set menu. They over charged me even though I clearly stated that I had wanted the set menu. 5. They forgot one part of the starter so the waiter had to give me the money back in coins. 6. No acknowledgement that the service I got was absolutely appalling. DON'T EVER GO HERE unless you want a terrible time! read more

I love the building of this Carluccio's because it's got a wonderful staircase that I like to imagine people in ballgowns descending from. I've been to this particular restaurant mid-week and on a Friday night and the only complaint I've got is how long we had to wait for a table on the Friday night. We didn't have a reservation, but it's Carluccio's!... There are lots of them dotted around London, so you think it wouldn't be that hard to get a table... we were wrong. That said, we were invited to sit in the store, where they sell bread sticks and meringues and flavoured olive oils, which they laid out like a feast and we were allowed to partake in. We literally tried everything there was there, so long was our wait, but my god, was the food amazing and we hadn't even gotten a table yet. It's also a good ploy to get you to buy their food whilst waiting! We were so full, we wondered whether it was worth eating food there, but eventually we got a table and ascended up the pretty staircase into the dining rooms upstairs. I recommend you have the Lemon Granita, it's my favourite drink there. It's the sort of drink you would have an a hot summer's day in Italy and I can't get enough of them! I also had the pasta con funghi that night and that was just bliss. The pasta was freshly made, the mushroom perfect cooked and the portion generous. Our server was really cool, very humorous and totally deserved the big tip we donated later. I love the dining rooms and the space and the way they are laid out and this is just a really good place if you want great food, great service and a wonderful setting. Definitely one of my top places to eat in Covent Garden! read more

at the end of a long day of touristy activity we ended up in this area in Covent Garden.. We were specifically looking to stop at Tesco to pick up a couple things. Tesco was shuttered for a remod, so we decided to check into Carluccio's for dinner. While I know it's a local chain it was quite good. The wait staff was knowledgeable and charming, the food was quite good, the portions were reasonable without being elephantine (see Olive Garden - US). The wine recommendations were very nice and a good meal was had by all. We enjoyed dinner enough that we decided to try them for breakfast as well. Their take on eggs benedict was a hit with everyone. Again, our waitress was knowledgeable and charming, helpful without hovering. We were very pleased with both of our visits to Carluccio's and I expect we will visit them again next time we're in London. read more

Great meal here last night. Service was excellent and the food was good with great value for central London. I love their range of dishes, with meat-less options which weren't treated any differently from other dishes- I'm not a vegetarian but don't like eating meat too often, and hate it when there's one token vegetarian option, instead of a great menu with vegetables involved. Anyway- I probably be back. .. maybe to try that two course deal during the week :) read more

Terrible food. Terrible service. Overpriced. The worst example of London chain restaurants. Ripping off tourists and Londoners alike.

Ambience was good. I had ordered a Beef Pasta with a small Cola bottle. The actual reason I gave them a low rating is because f the service. There was an unwanted (non edible) substance found in the meal. When we reported this to the same waiter/server who served us, he took the plate from the table and headed to the counter extracted the subtance & came back within a minute without changing the whole content. The staff refused to replace the order. read more

This is definitely one of the nicest branches in this ever growing chain. However, a recent visit was marred by long waiting times and rather desinterested shop staff. A bit of a disappointment to be completely ignored when the maitre d' recommends the wine tastine next door. Oh well, their penne with courgettes and spinach balls is the perfect comfort food to get over this rather slack experience in no time at all. Perfect spot for a quick dinner before theatre. read more

Was looking forward to the restaurant as heard the original chef was highly regarded by Jamie Oliver. Unfortunately he passed away and it appears his restaurant will soon too.... after being sat at our table it took over 15mins for a waiter to see us...not crowded by the way...however the servers chatting it up and cleaning tables...once ordered food the starters were out in less than 5mins however over 40mins and waiting for the main which btw is a lunch menu special....I do not recommend as the food and service is very blah....Wish I was seeing the sites in London and not waiting for food! read more

I do love a bit of Carluccio's, firstly because it reminds me of my parents, they love having coffee there back in Reading and secondly, well because the food is good, Italian and I love Italian. Because it is not the cheapest chain restaurant out there, I tend to only go for a special occaision or if my mum takes me. I always have the pasta and fried spinach balls- they are something special and a bit of the money goes to charity. The steak is not their best option, but the pasta is always good. Look at the specials. The sandwiches soups and foccacias are also amazing, the bread they serve you is delicious, but I say if you are already there, then just go all out on a meal. You might aswell. The coffee of course is amazing, as is the thick hot chocolote, nothing like the powder stuff. And for pudding you can't go wrong with the gelato, or the tiramisu... or anything really! This Carluccios is my favourite location wise, but there are lots of them dotted around the city- the chain seems to be doing well and is expanding rapidly. They also sell pasteries, cheeses, wines, ready made meals and anti pasti to go. read more

I love Carluccios, especially this one. I went here today for lunch and it was so nice. I got the Penne Giardiniera which was £7.25 and a total bargain for the quality of the food. It had courgettes, chilli, and deep fried spinach balls with parmesan and garlic. It wasn't a big portion but I wasn't that hungry so I didn't mind. The food was delicious though and with that particular dish they donate 50p to the Action against hunger charity which makes it taste all the sweeter. The building is beautiful too, upstairs is the private dining room and the ground floor has the lovely food shop and the cafe. My friend got a sandwich with mozzarella, pesto and tomato and although it seems really simple it came out on in a massive triangular ciabatta and I had a bite and it was gorgeous, and completely huge. The waiting staff were lovely, all very smiley and from what I could tell all Italian. Another friend told me that she didn't have a good experience there with the service but I don't believe her, Its always a great meal in Carluccios. read more

Carluccio's - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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By far the worst food in London . The bread is inedible taste like salt brink, The pizza actually had a hole in the middle in a bowl. The soup was from a can. read more

Sometimes when you walk into a place, you think to yourself: tonight is gonna be good. That's exactly what tonight was! A blend of delicious meats, cheeses, veggies and breads to graze on while I sampled the Planeta wine that Carluccio's stocks. If the weather had been sunnier and the view a bit more rustic (rather than an overcast central London), I'd have sworn I'd been transported to Sicily with a group of friends. Interesting discussions were had and playful teasing happened over breads dipped in Planeta's olive oil - so buttery, with a hint of pepper. The finishing touch was a cannoli filled with a cream with bits of chocolate and candied orange peel whipped into it, and served along with a glass of Moscato. YUM! You can leave the gun, but most definitely take the cannoli! read more

I've gotta hand it to Carluccio's. Their flagship Covent Garden location is an elegant space, especially the upstairs dining room! If you ever get a chance to wine-n-dine here (as I and about 20 other Qypers did at a Sicilian wine tasting event (http://london.blog.qype.com/?p=2049) ), by all means take advantage of the opportunity. It's a lovely spot, smack dab in the heart of Central London but above and removed from the fray. I think Carluccio's do Italian right. They offer a brilliant selection of wines (I love Planeta's Alastro) and solid antipasti. In fact, everything I've tried on their menu has been fine by me, especially the calf's liver. Drool. read more

After arriving fashionably late due to London's great transport system I joined my fellow Qypers for a delightful evening at a private wine tasting at Carluccio's. The Planeta wines, white, red and dessert were delightful and our host Michael was very knowledgeable and dare I say very passionate about these wines. The antipasto dishes were quite individual and a wonderful mixture of delicious meats, cheeses, veggies and breads that are available to buy in the deli downstairs. To accompany the dessert wine plates of moreish cannoli appeared. Many thanks to Carluccio's for a delightful evening and I look forward to returning there for a meal in the near future. read more

AbFab dahling! It was an evening of wine, information and friends. So much fun I want to go back for more. In fact, I AM going back for more - going to Carluccio's to buy some of that most stunning olive oil. That Planeta stoned olive oil is worth every penny of it's price! The wines were all stunning with the 'gorse bush' and Saint Cecelia wines both tickling my palette in just the right way. The upstairs private dining room is beautiful but even more stunning is the downatairs space. The shop is well stocked and fun with the eatery intimate but spacious. I highly recommend a trip down here as quick as you can! read more

This Carluccio's is very centrally located and has an added wow factor with a great circular stone staircase and a light and airy private function room with big windows. I was there for the Sicilian wine tasting evening, when qypers got to taste the entire range of Planeta wines, accompanied by some fab antipasti and cannoli to die for. These are easy-drinking wines. If you like oaky chardonnay, you'll like any of the whites (La Segreta Bianco £8.95; Alastro £12.50, Cometa £19.50, Chardonnay). I have to declare I prefer a nice grassy sauvignon blanc from Chile/ NZ, and you just can't grow white wines like that in Sicily, so they weren't really my cup of tea (!). The reds, however, were far more up my street: big, robust flavours. The 'entry level' La Segreta Rosso was one of my faves. I also liked the top-end Santa Cecilia (£19.50), the Syrah and the Burdese (=in the bordeaux style). The Cerusuolo di Vittorio (£19.50) is v quirky and tastes of cherries (Cerusuolo=cherryish). Not for me, but others loved it, so clearly a personal choice. There was also a strong Merlot (14% vol) which fell somewhere in the middle of my preferences, but very quaffable. And unusually for Sicily, a Rose for £10.50. Last, but certainly not least, was the lovely dessert wine Passito di Noto, a moscato bianco, which went perfectly with the divine cannoli. All the wines are available from the Carluccio's shop on the ground floor (open until 11pm). As is a very good olive oil, also produced by Planeta for £14.95. read more

Part of the chain of Italian restaurants that have popped over all over London now, the Covent Garden Carluccio's was refitted about a year ago and is still a lovely place to grab a bite to eat. Slightly on the pricey side, at least the menu is not off the shelf Italian and you can be assured of good quality food. The deserts and coffee especially are exceptional (but then, I have a sweet tooth!). The crowd is funky and vibrant and not-too-touristy, whih makes a change for Covent Garden. Definitely worth a visit if you want a quick meal - be sure to book during busy times as it gets full! read more

This is the second time I've been to Carluccio's & both times have been full of great food, easy atmosphere & a nice drop of wine to go with it all. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Planeta (Sicilian)wine tasting in the private room upstairs of their Garrick St restaurant in Covent Gardeneverything from rose', light whites, oaked whites, deep reds & a lovely crisp desert wine to finish off the evening. The antipasto platter that was served with these wines was sooo tasty & fresh but the cannoli - what can i say.YUM! There were 20 of us at the tasting & by the looks of it we all learned a bit about Planeta wines and even their olive oil (thanks to Michael). Thanks to Carluccio's, Planeta & Qype for a lovely night out. read more

This place was beyond exceptional! Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious, reasonably priced food. I came here alone and had a very well-made Aperol spritz and the penne giardiniera. Both were great, and I had a lovely time reading my book and enjoying my meal. Will definitely be coming back soon! read more

This is one of the many Carluccio's in the London area. The difference is that I watched the entire place being fitted from my window at work. So I can tell you that the staff at Carluccio's are completely trained - they had a week's worth with maps of Italy and everything! The food at Carluccio's is delicious. Whether you sit down and eat or you choose something from their deli. Their prices are reasonable and you know you're getting good ingredients. This is a large Carluccio's with the bottom floor arranged in tables and booths on the side. Upstairs is pretty similar but with better and ofter lighting. I highly recommend a meal here. But a word of warning, book on a Friday at lunch time because it gets very full. read more

I love Carluccio's and it most definitely belongs to one of my favourite Italian chain restaurants. I must say the food was good, but it is at every Carluccio's restaurant I go, but I am just not too big of a fan of this particular restaurant. It is quite big and massive and looses its ambiance this way. Don't get me wrong it's still Carluccio's and it's still great I just prefer the one at Barrett Street just off Oxford Street which has so much more flair and ambiance to it and makes the whole Carluccio's experience so much nicer. read more

My wife and myself chose Carluccio's in Covent Garden for lunch recently on a visit to London. This wasn't our first visit to this restaurant, but was by far our best meal here. The menu is standard, although my wife chose the Lobster Lasagne from the specials board and said how delicious this was. The wine choice is good and the service was efficient without us feeling like we were being rushed out of the place. The only criticism I have of this venue is how crammed in you are, particularly on tables for two, and it's easy to feel like you're eating with strangers, which is sometimes really great fun, but only when you choose to. Having said this, it's perfectly understandable why they want/need to service so many covers, particularly over lunch time. The lemon tart with an accompanying glass of ice cold Limoncello is an absolute treat, and I would recommend this desert option to all non-drivers (or people who don't have to go back to work) out there. read more

Staff waited until we ordered drinks and brought them to us to then say they actually didn't have 4 different pasta dishes at 8:30 pm on a wednesday i would not recommend read more

Carluccio's is a great chain of Italian deli/pasta bars across London, serving a great range of pastas, salads, deli delights and coffees. This particular store is one of the best - with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and clean, classic decor. Great for coffee during the day, lunches or dinners, Carluccio's is consistent and reliable. Not groundbreaking, but hey, it doesn't always have to be does it? read more

Depending on what you order, the food is very good. The calamari was fresh and the Branzino is amazing. Service was ok.