Carluccios in administration

[Marco]

If you want to find a *genuine* Italian restaurant in the UK, the telltale sign to look for is one that doesn't have pizza on the menu [in Italy, pizzas are only sold in dedicated pizzerias], or indeed have pasta featured on menus as a main course! No self-respecting Italian restaurant in Italy would be seen dead doing either!

In proper Italian restaurants, pasta dishes ONLY feature as first courses (served in small portions) - NEVER as mains. End of. And you'll *never* see Spaghetti Bolognese, as it simply doesn't exist in Italy. Tagliatelle al Ragu is the real deal. In good restaurants, you'll also rarely find lasagne on the menu, as it's normally something Italians eat at home.

Therefore a typical menu in a genuine/authentic Italian restaurant will start with options for antipastos (cured meats, pickles, bruschetta, etc), then first courses, which will either be forms of soup, rice or pasta. Then will come the main courses, but crucially split into meat or fish dishes, listed in dedicated sections, with salad, vegetable and potato side-dishes also listed separately, then desserts and cheese.

So.... If your favourite Italian restaurant has a laminated menu (the contents of which almost never change), and which is dominated primarily by pasta and pizza, with only a token meat or fish dish, neither of which is particularly exciting, then you can safely assume that it's 'plastic Italian', and you can do MUCH better!

Marco.

[andyrlb]

Oh no ! No more torte limon ( or breakfasts )


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[Beobloke]

Like Marco, I've been a fan of the 'big man' for years and, going back 10 years or so, the food in Carluccio's was very good.

The last time I visited one was around 18 months ago and the meal we had was very disappointing so we've not been back since. Still sad to see it go, though.

[Marco]

Oh no ! No more torte limon ( or breakfasts )

Not sure I follow you, Andy?

Marco.

[Marco]

Like Marco, I've been a fan of the 'big man' for years and, going back 10 years or so, the food in Carluccio's was very good.

The last time I visited one was around 18 months ago and the meal we had was very disappointing so we've not been back since. Still sad to see it go, though.

Indeed, Adam. Antonio would turn in his grave if he were to have sampled some of the stuff being served in his restaurants recently, as he was such a perfectionist and desired for things to be 'just so'.

Also, another sign of an authentic Italian restaurant is when you're automatically brought some sliced crusty bread in a basket, along with a jug of water, soon after you've sat down at the table. And how often do you see that happening here? Almost never!

Water perhaps, but almost never bread. And I'm not talking about garlic bread, or something else that's been fannied about with - just plain, good quality crusty Italian bread (to mop up your pasta sauce)!

Marco.

[guy]

First few times we went to Carluccios we were given bread before our order was bought to us, similar to this:


https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/...515_110747.jpg

I will miss it

[andyrlb]

Not sure I follow you, Andy?

Marco.

Sorry Marco, I was referring to the fact that Carluccios were in administration, their breakfasts weren’t bad given the lack of choice at MK shopping centre, I did like the lemon tart . I do agree that it’s not like it used to be.


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[Marco]

First few times we went to Carluccios we were given bread before our order was bought to us, similar to this:


https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/...515_110747.jpg

I will miss it

Lol - there was none of that last time I went! Nice, but a bit too fancy (with focaccia, etc), no doubt creating significant wastage - mainly of profits... Plus if you ate that lot, you'd have no room for anything else!

No, I was thinking of something simpler, like this, sliced and put inside a little straw basket:



Marco.

[Marco]

Sorry Marco, I was referring to the fact that Carluccios were in administration, their breakfasts weren’t bad given the lack of choice at MK shopping centre, I did like the lemon tart . I do agree that it’s not like it used to be.

Ah, gotcha now. Never had breakfast there, but I can imagine that the lemon tart was good

Marco.

[guy]

It was for both of us (me being a cheapskate )