Rucoletta — Restaurant in London

I want to start by saying that I actually brought my girlfriend to this place in 2022 for our first date and we enjoyed the experience. Today however, on Valentines day, our experience was completely underwhelming. When I booked prior to the reservation I wasn't told that there was going to be a limited menu specifically for valentines day, with no option to order from the main menu. We weren't told this as we were seated nor is this on the website.

The menu items that were presented weren't great and the selection poor. The mains and the dessert were underwhelming considering we paid £85 for the food alone. It was certainly below the standard from 2022 when we enjoyed everything from starters to dessert.

We also asked other people from the surrounding tables and they too were unaware of the much smaller menu and similarly disappointed to have only been made aware that the options were limited after being seated.

Overall not worth the money that we spent but more specifically gutted because prior to today's experience I personally had a sentimental attachment to the restaurant :(

I don't like leaving bad reviews but if I'm paying over £100 to eat on valentines day I expect better. Please don't do limited menus next time without communicating in advance and if you are I'd choose...

This restaurant, upon first glance, seemed quite cozy; tucked away in a quiet street, there were not too many customers and allowed for a calm and uninterrupted dining experience. Service was lovely but a little slow. The food itself was decent, but lacking a distinct flavour that would mark it as delicious. I had the carbonara while my partner had the seabass, and immediately we both remarked that it was more oily than we would have liked (especially the seabass -- it practically leaked oil). The carbonara was not creamy at all, and its flavour was quite inconsistent. The tiramisu had a lovely texture but didn't have enough kick to leave me satisfied. However I wouldn't say that the dishes were not cooked well or were unpleasant to eat (apart from the oily seabass). The food would have definitely benefited from a little extra care to make it stand out as an unparalleled Italian experience.

Overall, a decent restaurant but nothing...

Rucoletta is a fantastic little Italian spot tucked just behind St Paul’s Cathedral. I went in without much expectation and left genuinely impressed. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff are super friendly and attentive.

I had a prawn pasta dish (can’t remember the exact name!) — it came with giant, juicy prawns in a beautifully balanced, light sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked and soaked up the flavours so well. You could tell the ingredients were really fresh. It was one of those dishes you don’t want to end.

The service was quick even though the place was quite busy. The warm bread with olive oil they bring out is a nice touch, and overall, the prices are very fair for central London — especially for the quality you’re getting.

It’s one of those rare places that feels like a local secret. No gimmicks, just really good food and genuine hospitality. Highly recommend if you’re in the area and craving...