Rucola

I'm italian and generally I don't go to italian restaurants, but this time wanted to give it a try so bought a voucher on Groupon for two. Honestly that's the best deal I had so far. This little restaurant is very close to the tube st., easily reachable, and the venue is nice and cozy. Everything look familiar, you can feel like home as the staff is really courteous and well mannered, the food is awesome and really tasty.
Mixed starter for two is a must if you want to try many different italian things (mortadella, fried cheese, oil and vinegar, focaccia bread, olives, roasted courgettes, parma ham and a REAL cow mozzarella,...), and Scialatielli with sea fruits is the best fish-based pasta I had in London so far! 5 stars wine selection and service. And the prices are surprisingly in the budget/average if compared to the high quality service/food you have back! I've been there only once but surely I'll be back!

I have been to this place 2 times over the last couple of months, but now I think I will visit them on a weekly basis. They have introduced a fantastic lunch menu at a very affordable price, the food it`s unpretentious and really yummy!!

CHIC ITALIAN FOOD FOR GROWN-UPS – NO PIZZA IN SIGHT – AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
Located just a stone’s throw away from St Paul’s tube, Rucola is no ordinary Italian restaurant. This may well have something to do with its chefs – the ever charismatic, multi-talented Luca, who was ‘kidnapped’ for the winter from a top seafood restaurant in Sardinia; the other, the brilliant Paolo Cannas (George Clooney lookalike – really!!), formerly head chef at top class Knightsbridge restaurant Signor Sassi.
The classy, luxurious menu may well resemble that of high-end Italian restaurants but the prices don’t. Three-course set for £16.50 (New Year’s menu at Signor Sassi will set you back £88).
I wanted everything on the menu. Luckily I was there on opening night (last night) so was able to try many of the dishes: tuna tartare with avocado (sublime), scallops with Italian chorizo (divine), calamari with tomato dip (scrummy), carpaccio with parmesan shavings & rocket (melt-in-the-mouth)… finely sliced veal chop with rosemary (exquisite), wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil (luxurious), parpadelle with Cornish crab & asparagus (dreamy)…and best of all, duck ravioli with butter & sage, for which there are no words…just dribbles…
I’m going back to treat myself to Paolo’s signature dish – Lobster Pasta – the finest in London, I have heard, and also surely the cheapest – at £19.50. And for dessert – I had too many fine Italian reds and prosecco to think of dessert. Paolo’s tiramisu is to die for! With, of course, the obligatory glass of grappa.
Go treat yourself and your friends for Christmas! You’d be fools not to!