Marcella — Restaurant in London

Guys, I’m sorry to say but you need to do better. I feel mean giving 3 stars but I do this as a long-time patron who’s been there from the get-go (we migrated from Artusi since Marcella was nearer home). Originally, Marcella and Artusi had a somewhat sketchy wine list - a few natural and organic types that the owners obviously seemed invested in for some reason or other but were super ropey. BUT, the food was always stellar so we let that slide a little (not easy because OH’s family come from 2 big wine regions in Italy - Puglia and Piemonte.) The wine list has expanded over time but I don’t feel like the quality has improved. The other night I had 2 glasses of Nero d’Avola because I was repulsed by the “orange” wines and thought I couldn’t go wrong with such a typically pleasing red. It was meh. And, okay, it was £5 a glass, but I’ve had better Nero d’Avola from the supermarket for £5 a bottle.

As for the food, there’s still a lot of goods, but I’m sad to say that there are many more bads than there ever were. What business does celeriac have being on a menu at an Italian restaurant? I mean, I thought it would be shredded and served up like puntarelle or something. I asked the waitress if it were like a salad and she said yes. Why on earth did she say yes?! It was like eating a parsnip. Pretty gross, to be honest. The spaghetti alla norcina made up for it a little but the spaghetti was very sticky and super al dente. Not enough starch water in the sauce and oil to make it an easy, enjoyable eat. The desserts are always just okay, but we don’t go there for the desserts. We go there for the knock-you-off-your-chair mains and I don’t think anything has knocked us sideways for some time.

I will say, the focaccia is out of this world. But I don’t wanna come out and spend £45 on a couple of slices of nice focaccia. Please, guys, you can do so much better. Complacency has led to this averageness and for gawd’s sake bring back those saffron arancini. They were the...

The food was okay at best, and the portions are rather generous.

We both had the sausage Ragu, where the pasta was overcooked, to the extent that even my 90 year old grandma with no teeth can eat it. The dish lacked mantecatura, it felt like a dish with 3 distinct components: pasta, sausage and grease, rather than a proper pasta dish where the elements are integrated.

The biggest disappointment, however, was the service. Several occasions where we wondered whether some of the staff knew the fundamentals of hospitality. Less than a minute after we sat down, we were asked whether we are ready for drinks (when there was only one drinks menu) There are options for small or large pasta portions, the waitress seems to be in a rush that we didn't get the chance to specify that we wanted small portions, and ended up recieving two large portions instead. We ordered some snacks and they arrived at the SAME TIME as the pasta. It took us quite some time to ask for the bill when we finished our meal. The waitress proceeded to do completely different things for quite some time, before we asked another waiter for the bill (which he delivered quickly)

Overall, we were left a bit confused as to what this place wants to be. While we see Marcella's attempt to be an Italian restaurant, it was quite clear to us it has adapted to accommodate the British audience. If you are looking for authentic Italian food, don't expect it to find it here. Given the price, the least one would expect is some hospitality and good service. From our experience, we were left with the impression that the staff lacked coordination and fundamentals of good service. So if you are looking for a good dining experience, I dont think you will find it...

Controversial: My Review of Marcella's: A Pasta Revelation

I’ve always had a firm stance on pasta: it’s a waste of money to eat at restaurants. Why pay a premium for something I can easily make at home? This belief held strong for years, as I avoided ordering pasta in any dining establishment. That was until I tried pasta at Marcella's. (I was forced to by a friend).

But I’m glad I did because my first visit to Marcella's was nothing short of a revelation. I was sceptical at first. The initial bread and butter delivered to the table and upon the initial first bite of pasta I knew I was experiencing something extraordinary. The pasta at Marcella's is crafted with such skill and care that it transcends any home-cooked version I've ever had. (I am a fantastic cook). The flavors are rich and complex, the textures perfectly balanced - this included the deserts.

Marcella's has forever changed my stance on eating pasta at restaurants. Despite my initial reluctance, I now find myself craving their pasta regularly. In fact, Marcella's is the only place where I will and have eaten pasta, simply because it’s so addictive.

I might still believe that most restaurant pasta is a waste of money, but Marcella's has set a new standard. For anyone who has ever doubted the value of restaurant pasta, a visit to Marcella's is a must. It’s an experience that will change your mind, just as it did mine.

Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures because though the food is picture worthy, I shan’t waste a second photographing it, than having it...