Al Duca — Restaurant in London

From the start of our evening, the charm and attentiveness of the staff made clear that my partner and I would want for nothing at Al Duca. The choice can be made to dine al fresco, but this brisk evening we dined inside the tastefully decorated and well lit, yet intimate space. The menu was just the right size to provide options for all tastes without the same old, same old - their new chef curated the perfect menu. After selecting a nice white wine from their good selection, we started with pumpkin ravioli with mushrooms - the pumpkin was very flavourful and the freshly-made pasta remarkably delicate, just superb. We shared our entrees because we couldn't bear to try just one. I ordered the bass with dill sauce, served with pickled fennel, chicory and samphire, all of which contrasted beautifully with the tender bass. My partner ordered the Ox cheek and truffle mash with carrot/onion garnish. All was stunning, and the Ox in particular was richly infused with exceptional depth. Our plates were clean. I (easily) convinced my partner to order dessert, and while he was in heaven with the salted caramel/hazelnut-adorned dark chocolate mousse, I went to Cloud 9 with the deconstructed pistachio cannoli - I may never have a constructed regular cannoli again. All in all, a wonderful night of flavour and the exceptional sublime service made the evening one...

We had a very enjoyable dinner at Al Duca tonight. The menu and the location has changed. BUT, The awesome quality and authenticity of the quintessential Italian food is the same. God bless. The fun of the experience is still alive. We had small plates, Cicchetti, as we haven’t been there since they moved to a NEW place. OMG, what a great food. Not too salty like in most NEW Places for quick fixed taste, the pasta is mind blowing. We had 3 pasta dishes lol including 4 “starters”. Our favorites are Zucchini fritti, Grilled Asparagus, grilled goats cheese, and ALL pastas, pasta with lamb ragu, pasta with black truffle and pasta with crab. Wine was world class “old world” Italian wine. Almost the same price as in Vivino!!! Rum baba (sorry as it is not very Italian) is delicious with a very pleasant twist. The service is very welcoming and warming, we even have “complimentary” digestif. Thank you very much. Value for money unbeatable, especially in this post COVID period.

Please help me God to live longer to have more fun at Al Duca.

After so many years, Al Duca remains one of our most favored go-to restaurants, a testament to its enduring quality and charm. Highly recommended for anyone looking for authentic, well-executed Italian...

Ordered the lamb fusilli pasta dish at dinner when the restaurant was full. It came with pasta that was clearly trofie, which wasn't to my liking. On questioning the (I believe Italian) waiter I was lied to and told it was actually indeed true fusilli, and that westerners had misappropriated the word fusilli to mean something else. Gave them the benefit of the doubt in the moment, but didn't eat much because it wasn't to my liking anyway. Have now discovered I was indeed right so obviously have felt quite humiliated, insulted and embarrassed, which I actually also felt at the table to a degree because I did have the slight impression I was being lied to in a room full of diners at the time.

Only the second online review I've ever posted, both being motivated by particularly bad experiences...