Carluccio's Canary Wharf, E14

Carluccio's Canary Wharf
Reuters Plaza,
London E14 5AJ
Tel. 020 7719 1749

Open: Mon-Fri 7-11.30, Sat 9-11.30, Sun 10-10.30

I had a craving for Spaghetti Bolognese during work and Carina had already made her way home so we had to eat East. We know what to expect at Carluccio's and it is only a 20 minute walk and DLR from home so I met her there after work. It wasn't too busy being a Monday night and was full of the suits and multinationals in suits. This Carluccio's like all the others we have visited is both a caffé and a foodshop where you can have breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and pick up finest Italian groceries from their larders and prepared foods counters.


The menus across all Carluccio's are the same, with 5-6 choices for each course. We shared the Paté Di Fegatini Di Pollo to start with, which was delicious. I love paté but with only two tiny pieces of Ciabatta soaked with Olive Oil, it was both messy and inadequate for the pot of paté.

Pasta Con Funghi - Egg pappardelle with a mix of shiitake, oyster, porcini and button mushrooms.

Our choices of mains were the Pasta Con Funghi and Spaghetti Alle Vongole In Bianco. Both dishes were solid although I was disappointed that the Italian waiter that served us offered to put Parmesan on the seafood dish and my girlfriend mistakenly accepted. Parmesan Cheese (if it's the real stuff, Parmigiano-Reggiano) is an aged cheese with salt in it. Purists argue that because seafood comes from the sea it is already salted and the parmesan will over power it, unless the seafood dish is made with a pasta sauce from southern Italy where the sauces are heavy and can take the salt. This was the first time in over 10 visits that this had happened at a Carluccio's. Despite this the spaghetti with clams in garlic and chilli sauce was light and not over seasoned. My pappardelle had a great selection of fresh mushrooms in a well balanced sauce with al dente pasta.

Spaghetti Alle Vongole In Bianco - A Neapolitan spaghetti with whole fresh clams, garlic, herbs and chilli.

To finish, we overate and had the Tiramisu and Cioccolato Fondente. Over indulgent. The bill came to £34.05 plus tip (Interesting article about pay at restaurant chains, click here).

The tables needed another wipe and all the menus we were brought over were sticky. Our waitress was on her first night and clearly didn't know the menu but that was ok! The food is predictable but good and we continue to return.

Note to self: They do not make Spaghetti Bolognese at Carluccio's

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5)