Everything about Luna is indulgent. Prime cuts of meat by the kilo. Mouthwatering pasta dishes sitting provocatively between the starters and mains. A dessert trolley that wheels its way around the retro dining room, flaunting its wares. But everything about Luna is equally brilliant. If you have not been, then you are denying yourself one of the most wonderful culinary experiences this city has to offer.
It's fair to say that Luna is not cheap. However, the food is so rich that you could only allow yourself to eat here once in a while. For this reason we'll forgive the prices for now. The attention to detail is one thing that makes this restaurant so special. From the beautiful glassware and cutlery, through to the Louis Copeland-dressed waiters. The service is excellent and we never feel rushed from the table, despite lengthy periods spent digesting our food.
Then, there is the food. A party of three, we decide to share the Culatello of Italian cured ham to start, served with a delicious blob of fresh burrata. The fennel infused salame is a highlight and our appetites are certainly whetted. Without wanting to make complete pigs of ourselves, but not wanting to miss out, we opt to share the customary Italian pasta course and it is more than enough to get a flavor of how the chef can elevate a relatively simple plate of food. The macaroni is served with ndjua (an Italian pork sausage), mozzarella and basil and the pasta is as fresh as you will find in the city.
The mains are split into sharing and individual plates across both the fish and meat, so, perhaps a careful selection of dinner guests is advisable here. Unable to agree on a choice to share, and being slightly put off by the price of the Bisteca Fiorentina (T-Bone for 2), we all go for the lean steak option, which is the Hangar. It is served over a bed of spinach and caramelized onion and, despite its phallic appearance, looks extremely appetizing. Sides of baby new potatoes with Parmesan, cabbage in parsley sauce and corn on the cob 'cacio e pepe' accompany the steak. It really is perfectly tender and delightful. We take our time over numerous glasses of red wine to finish what is a very large plate of food. The dessert trolley eventually shows up and we can only muster up the appetite to share a large slice of the cheesecake, which is, thankfully, very light and enjoyable.
I find it hard to fault this fantastic restaurant. I loved the walls of red Campari bottles. The shared bathrooms are beautifully crafted, complete with hidden doors. The lounge set up takes you back to a bygone era, perhaps just missing the cigarette smoke. And the food, in my opinion, justifies the price tag. It all works magnificently. The atmosphere was lively for a Wednesday evening so one can assume the weekend is extremely busy. All in all, Luna is another big hit from the renowned John Farrell portfolio. Along with 777, Butcher Grill, Super Miss Sue and Dillingers, he truly is shaping the restaurant landscape of the city. read more