Review on Luca
Isaac McHale, Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis the brains behind the renowned Michelin-starred The Clove Club, listed No 26 in World's Best Restaurant awards 2016, have opened a second venture called Luca in Clerkenwell. Designed by the critically acclaimed Alexander Waterworth with floor to ceiling glass walls, the décor pays homage to 1950's Italy in a palette of of sage and blue.
The main restaurant overlooks an outdoor courtyard and features a semi-open kitchen, and there's the added bonus of two private dining rooms, one doubles as a pasta preparation and demonstration area, and a Garden Room which is enclosed in winter, but in the summer the roof is taken off. The bar offers a separate space to encourage visitors to drop in for a drink and snack, with the menu focussing on finger foods and sharing plates.
Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Robert Chambers who earned his culinary spurs in Michelin-starred restaurants such as The Square, Locanda Locatelli and The Ledbury. Making excellent use of first-class British produce he proposes an Italian menu that he calls 'Britalian'. Among the list of starters you might find grouse ravioli with potato sauce and whisky or spaghettini with Morecambe Bay shrimp and mace butter. Main courses embrace Cornish monkfish, fregola sarda and green olive sauce or from the land there's rump of Hereford beef stuffed with pancetta, salsify, mushrooms and kale juice. To finish expect sweet offerings like baked chocolate mousse and prune kernel cream or hazelnut ice cream and salted caramel sauce.
Luca has an excellent wine list that majors in Italian wines, together with inventive cocktails, Amaros and home-made Limoncello and Nocino.
Luca is also featured in: Hardens
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Italian
Chef
Robert Chambers
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 through until
Dinner: 10.00pm Mon-Sat
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express