Rocket Salad
Luigi's Italian Ristorante

Luigi's Italian Ristorante

730 Chester Road Old Trafford Manchester, M32 0RS, United Kingdom

Pizza • Sushi • Mexican • Asiatic


"This was a curate 's egg of an evening and, judging by other reviews, a bit of a one off. I hope, for their sake, that it was. We were a late booking. When we arrived we seemed to be expected and were shown to a table, but then waited for a quarter of an hour for someone to bring us a menu or ask if we wanted a drink. I then followed the lead of others in the restaurant and went to get our own drinks form the receptionist. After we had been waiting for nearly 45 minutes, and after several waves, the waiter finally came to take our order. We had been planning to have the tasting menu, but that was off. There was no apology for the wait. After a further wait, our starter arrived and then after another delay the main course. Both were outstanding. Yes, that 's right, the food was great. I had a prawn starter and a chicken main; my wife a carpaccio starter and veal main. All four dishes were innovative and excellently cooked very far from the standard Italian you get. Desserts were good too. I had to go to reception to get the bill it seemed to bear little relation to what we 'd had, but seemed about right and we just didn 't have the time or energy to argue. So, all in all, a mixed evening. To be fair, it was a fairly busy restaurant, but there seemed to be only one waiter and a receptionist. The waiter was very busy and so not as attentive as he might have been. I can only assume that they were 'man (or men) down ' front of house and, perhaps in the kitchen as well. Had they told us that when we arrived there 'd probably have been a bit of a Dunkirk spirit and we 'd all have laughed about it and accepted that they were doing their best. But they didn 't, and most people around us were getting quite frustrated. As I say, judging by other reviews, this was a one off. I really hope it was, because the food was really, really good. But if I go again, I 'll take a book."

La Pappardella

La Pappardella

253 Old Brompton Rd, London, SW59HP, SW5 9JA, United Kingdom

Wine • Pizza • Pasta • Italian


"aaahhh, La Pappardella....There's nothing I can say that can give their food justice...I've known La Pappardella for years, though I haven't been there for a while, until recently, where my husband and I decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary.So we went there full of hopes for a delicious, romatic evening. And such evening we've had.We were greeted by two of their staff and even though we have booked a table, they gave us a free choice to sit wherever we wanted. The restaurant is small but they do have some sitting downstairsin and in the back garden in the summer.We've ordered a nice bottle of white wine. The choice on the menu is endless. Anything from pasta through risotto to pizzas and salads. We started off with grilled prawns and carpaccio. Now, I'm not a big fan of sea food, but I scoffed up almost all of my husband's starter. Carpaccio: tender and full of flavour.For main, my hubby chose risotto. That was the biggest plate i have seen while eating out. It was rich and creamy with fresh chicken and tender veg. I went for a lobster spaghetti. A bit extravagant, but it was a special occasion and I just wanted to compare London's lobster to the one we had in St Kitts. Well, I was not dissapointed. A huge plate of pasta (though it was slightly over-cooked and i like mine a bit tenter) in a rich, fresh tomato and a hint of a chilli sauce and there, on top, lay the lobster in its full glory: cut in quarters. It was delicious and... messy.... I never had to play with tools like this before, as previously I had my lobster shelled. But it was so much fun to get dirty.Ice-cream based desserts were the perfect finish to a lovely meal. At the ned, we received complimentary shots of lemon flavoured course meal for with bottle of wine and service we have paid which is an absolute bargain for the quality of food and service you'll receive in return.I love that little place and we just keep coming back for more.Buon apetito!"