La Scarpetta da Mario

At last, I am getting around to reviewing this restaurant which has probably been open for more than a year. It has been playing on my conscience all that time. I frequented the restaurant a couple of times when it was Luciano´s and am pleased to say that not much has changed. The ambience is slightly more intimate – previously the restaurant was more illuminated with red and white check tablecloths – slightly more rustic Italian kitchen than it is now. The restaurant itself is fairly small with only seven tables for two people and one for four people. The kitchen opens up into the restaurant where Mario the owner and a helper create their excellent Italian concoctions.

We were welcomed by the waiter, Giovanni, who one could naturally assume is the owner of the restaurant. He holds court over all the tables with the air of an Islington luvvie actor but with an Italian lilt – very professional and very entertaining – he is a pure asset to the business. Giovanni took us through (in great detail) the specials of the day listed on the blackboard which included fresh polenta served with a choice of three sauces (you could choose one or all three), penne with salmon, costine agenello alla provençale (lamb cutlets with Mediterranean herbs) and two desserts.

The menu itself served the usual Italian fare but, from what I saw being served to the other tables, everything was presented beautifully and imaginatively. Starters included antipasti, mixed vegetable antipasti, tomato or mixed bruschetta, fish or meat carpaccio and stuffed vegetables. There were 10 pasta dishes (with a choice of spaghetti, penne or linguine). The spaghetti with seafood looked divine (a large serving too). We were served a small helping of toasted bread with a homemade tomato garlic sauce and we chose a bottle of Soave to go with our meal. We chose between us scamorza grill (smoked Italian cheese melted on the stove served with toasted bread) and the fish carpaccio (a choice of swordfish or salmon). I had the swordfish which was cut extremely thinly on a bed of rocket or ruccola – I´m not sure. Our main courses were the lamb special of the day and Italian sausages grilled with balsamic vinegar. Unfortunately the lamb cutlets where served with dry roasted vegetables with no sauce but we were provided with the usual Italian condiments of an extremely good quality balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and herbed vinegar. The balsamic sauce with the Italian sausages was cooked to a gooey consistency which I loved but Rog thought was just a little too sticky.

Now I´ve got the food out of the way I can harp on about all those little extras that I love and which make the evening even more memorable.

1) The wine glasses must be amongst the biggest I have ever seen including even the white wine glasses. Giovanni selects the appropriate glasses from those hanging above the bar and holds them into the light of the kitchen to check for cleanliness – with a very professional manner, I must add.

2) A couple arrived while we there who had made a reservation. For their appetiser they were given black olives and an aperitif (which looked like a kir) and some toasted bread with balsamic vinegar. Giovanni did mention that this was given to all of those with a prior reservation – next time, Jen, just book a table beforehand.

3) The music in the bar was extremely relaxing and at one stage we had Pavarotti singing La Traviata – much to Roger´s pleasant surprise.

4) Each of our dishes were served with fresh herbs as decoration – in fact I think we both got the same cutting of herb on our starter and main dishes – but very nice all the same.

5) The diners on the table next to us ordered the fresh homemade chocolate cake (which looked more like a rich torte) and Giovanni very artistically piped fresh cream and dusted cocoa powder onto the serving dish – all very pretty.

At this stage in the evening, I did mention that I was writing a review of the restaurant – a bit noticeable really, as I was avidly writing down notes at the table – in a small restaurant this is a bit difficult to do without being seen! We then received a dessert on the house of a homemade sorbet with fruits of the forest served in a small wine glass – Giovanni informed me that it was made with black and red berries, lemon ice-cream, cream, vodka (lots of, I tasted) and a dash of grenadine – very nice thank you – not very good for the first day of ANOTHER diet (mmm, I wonder how long this one will last!). The tiramisu, on the other table next to us this time, looked absolutely perfect – nice and rich. There was also a dessert on the menu which took my fancy (maybe on my next visit) of Cantucci with Zibibbo Wine - dry almond biscuit to dip into sweet zibibbo wine (which I havn´t heard of – should have enquired at the time).

I finished off with an excellent espresso and we were given a choice of lemoncello or an excellent grappa on the house. Giovanni asked us to sign the visitor´s book and I took great interest in reading the comments – everyone seems to rave about the food here and exclaim what a good find it is and Giovanni seems to entertain most customers while working extremely professionally. His performance was faultless apart from pouring some of my wine into my water glass (with some water still in it). He was so mortified but it really didn´t make an iota of difference to my view of his professionalism – so what? - I had a small spritzer with my meal – no pasa nada.

I´m now looking forward to my next visit when I will definitely go down the pasta road – it all looked very well cooked with scrummy sauces.

An extremely intimate but informal restaurant where you can spend a very relaxing evening. In fact, even after our meal was all paid for we still stayed a while just soaking up the calming atmosphere. The restaurant can be found in La Menara commercial centre (underneath the Big Ben clock). It is closed on Sundays and is open in the evenings only.