La Trattoria — Restaurant in England

Hi, here's my quick review of our first visit at La Trattoria Booking. My girlfriend and I were in a mood for an Italian food once. Googled the subject and La Trattoria showed up as one of the most popular once, so we decided to give it a shot. Booking a table was very smooth, Lady owner informed me of the day's menu, waiting time and also asked about allergies and any potential special requests. Venue. We turned up on time, and first impression was very confusing - the place actually looks like a typical Italian Trattoria (tavern - eng). Don't be put off or misguided by the red tablecloths, carpet and panelling on the walls - the best is yet to come. Food. That was the moment when the Lady owner Agnieszka, and Chef Michele stepped in. It wasn't busy at all so they both came to our table and recommend food...which blown us away! We were taken aback by the quality and taste of every single item on our plates. We went for the lamb shank, carbonara and some starters. We have been to many Italian restaurants and I must frankly admit - La Trattoria is second to none. Michele is a true taste buds whisperer . He will make you come back again. So if you are not bothered about the peculiar interior, and you put food quality first - La Trattoria is the place for you. Thank you Agnieszka and Michele for all your stories, food recipes and hospitality . Will be...

We booked a meal for 4 here solely based on some very good reviews on Trip Advisor. Although the restaurant was very tired and grubby inside (loose carpet tiles, sticky chair frame etc) we went ahead and ordered. The sole waitress was very pleasant (though distracted), and the starters were generally fine except for some tough Calamari, and "Mushrooms stuffed with pate" which consisted of 4 tiny button mushrooms with pate smeared around the stalks, floating in a pot of olive oil. The main courses (2 pizzas and 2 pasta dishes) were again mostly "ok" except for stones left in the olives on a pizza (maybe thats normal?) and a truly awful "Penne Amatriciana". I swear it was just tomato sauce base, with no herbs, chilies or onions, and ONE 1/4 inch lump of bacon. We asked for parmesan and chillies, and used that to try and make it less bland (we had to be quick as they wanted to take it away for another table who wanted it!). I know this sounds like a rant. Complaining like this is something that I rarely do, but this restaurant is honestly poor at best. If it was selling itself as a no nonsense lunch stop on a busy A road at more realistic prices, fine. Charging £150 for 4 people for this standard of food and general cleanliness is not. p.s. Very confused by the other positive reviews, I can only assume they were written a long time ago (or by...

I remember going to eat at La Trattoria in Luton when I was a university student back in the 90’s whenever I’d crave for some Italian food done properly like my peeps do it back home, Michele the chef-owner and wife Agnieszka saved many of my dinners at that time.

I’ve recently been back to Luton for business after so many years away and was so pleased to find out that Michele, Agnieszka and La Trattoria are still there. Great to see the area around the restaurant has being pedestrianised by the council, a definite uplift from the old days.

Fantastic to see that Michele is still cooking and Agnieszka always running the floor, looking not much different from the way I remember them, a bit of a time capsule still holding the same genuine, authentic, flavoursome Italian food and the hospitality warmth typical of the Italian restaurants of the old days.

I ate lasagne, I had to, they were so good!

In a world where chain restaurants aggressively dominate our high streets it really gladdens my heart to see established, old fashioned, independent restaurateurs still going strong delivering great food and the lovely family atmosphere you would expect from an Italian restaurant.

I must go back soon and enjoy it as often as I can, and hope they are not planning to retire...