Leng Montgomery's Qype reviews
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300-302 St Paul's Road, London N1 2LH
Leng Montgomery
wrote on 9 May 2011
Trullo frustrates me on many levels.
It's expensive for what it is and I thought their bread basket was atrocious. OK quality bread but three limp slabs of floury bread with what seemed like a tiny crucible of olive oil. In thinking this was an Italian restaurant a bit of generosity with oil wouldn't go amiss.
It felt like it was a portion that was given to you straight from the restaurant's accountant. Each mouthful you take will eventually balance out the red values on that spreadsheet and lace them back in the black.
The menu was quite diverse but the prices were quite a spank on the pocket. But the food we ate was very good.
To start we had the insulting bread and recession sized drop of olive oil. Then we shared a pasta dish of cream, sorrel and smoked eel. Now that was a plate of pasta to remember. Every ingredient complimented each other and offered a subtle smoky, sweet and tangy flavour. The pasta was fresh and was very moorish. We nearly had another plate but then we decided to wait until our mains.
My beloved had some bulgur wheat which had peas and asparagus and in some ways was like a lighter Spring version of risotto. Very nice delicate flavours and wasn't too much. I had some lamb that was slowcooked with garlic and served with peas and mint. It was lovely yet had a posh canteen like feel about how it was served.
We opted for a panna cotta for dessert and although smaller and firmer the caramel flavour was beautiful. This was just like having Italian Creme Caramel.
The bill came and it wasn't overly cheap. Just like the rest of the area really. But the thing I found is that there are restaurants that are shining and I feel Trullo is slightly mediocre in comparison. It had great elements but it was just how the whole experience married with each other - there was something that didn't quite gel.
I also think I have Zucca partly to blame as once you eat there it sets a very high benchmark.
Trullo does Italian in an entirely different way. Trullo is Italian by English people, Zucca is Italian by Italians.