12th March 2010
Carluccio’s in Wimbledon Village continues its clever tradition of restaurant, coffee shop, patisserie and delicatessen. As you enter the restaurant you cannot miss the myriad of beautifully displayed deli and patisserie products, many of which you can also buy in Carluccio’s on-line shop.
My wife and I booked a table for Saturday night and were eager to experience the Carluccio atmosphere and hospitality that we know from their other London venues. We were not let down. As we walked through the door we could see that they were having a very busy night. In spite of this, we were quickly and politely greeted and taken to our table in no time at all by a welcoming waiter who gave us some really good suggestions from the winter menu.
The atmosphere was lively and we could see that other customers were having a good time – no doubt helped by the subtle background music, meaning that you could actually talk without shouting – often a rarity in today’s restaurants.
To start with we shared a Savoury Bread Tin consisting of Carluccio’s own focaccia and a selection of other Italian soft and crisp breads with some olive oil for dipping. An absolute must for bread lovers as our selection was very tasty.
We chose a “spicy and rich” red Sicani wine which we actually found incredibly smooth with just a hint of tannin. At only £12.95 a bottle, great value for money. The Sicani is made from a blend of native Sicilian Nero Mascalese and Nero D’Avola grapes.
For a starter my wife chose Bruschetta consisting of fresh tomatoes with oregano, basil, roasted yellow peppers and extra virgin olive oil on a slice of Italian roasted bread rubbed with garlic. This was absolutely delicious. The light use of garlic perfectly complemented the fresh topping.
My Arancini di Riso Siciliani, two deep fried rice balls, one with melting mozzarella and one with meat ragù, was served with a red pepper sauce. Whilst I felt the rice balls were a tad plain in taste, the delicate red pepper sauce was bursting with redeeming flavour.
My wife’s main course of Bistecca Di Bue Con Patate was a 10 ounce chargrilled bone-in rib steak with rosemary flavoured potatoes and red pepper sauce. She enthused about the flavoursome steak – perfectly cooked and tender. The red pepper source (the same one I had with my first course) provided a delicious accompaniment.
Spezzatino Di Maiale Con Polenta, a rich pork stew cooked with tomatoes, red and yellow peppers, flavoured with garlic and red wine was my main course. Served with grilled polenta slices this was a perfectly tasty meal for me.
For desert my wife chose Affogato, which is vanilla ice-cream served over ice in a tall glass with a liqueur poured over. My wife, always crazy about nutty flavours went for the Frangelico hazelnut liqueur. The combination was absolutely fantastic and she is still reminiscing about it.
At the same time I was enjoying the most delicate flavours of Tiramisu - not sickly sweet and just perfect with a generous sprinkling of unsweetened cocoa powder.
To finish we both slowly sipped aromatic espresso: mine was smooth and flavoursome whereas my wife’s was rich and robust. Carluccio’s let you choose exactly how you like your coffee!
It was a great evening with an excellent meal and very friendly service. Andrea, the manager and his team run a very welcoming and successful Carluccio’s in Wimbledon Village where we will be back soon to experience more of their delicious food and hospitality.
Some quick Carluccio's facts
Three course meal for two with a bottle of wine and coffee: approximately £40.00
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Vegetarian dishes also available
Seafood dishes also available
Optional service charge of 12.5% for parties of 8 or more
Major credit cards are accepted
Further Carluccio's Options
Book a table at Carluccio’s in Wimbledon
View current menu
View map link
Visit Carluccio’s on-line shop
Back to main Carluccio’s listing
