Harden's survey result
Summary
“Subtle and original” cooking (from “the highest quality of ingredients”, all of them British) wins high ratings at this “discreet, classic high-end Italian”, which inhabits rambling and lovely premises north of Smithfield Market, complete with a beautiful rear conservatory. Other than being “a really special place”, it bears no comparison to its sibling, The Clove Club. Top Tips – the Parmesan fries are a trademark; and it’s “great for a business lunch”.
Summary
“Love it every time”, agree fans of this Clove Club spin-off in Clerkenwell that uses prime British ingredients to create “elegant Italian dishes”. “The menu is always original, and whether you sit in the cosy booths at the front or amid the light and glass at the back”, where there is a gorgeous conservatory, “the ambience is great – fun, but serious about the food”. It’s also “excellent for business” – “smooth, polished and reliable”.
Summary
“Upscale” three-year-old in Clerkenwell that’s an “unassuming-yet-special-feeling” cousin to the famous Clove Club, and whose quirky layout – “lots of different ‘zones’ in the restaurant, with a cosy bar at the front” and “funky” conservatory to the rear – creates a “delightful” setting for a meal. Its distinguishing culinary feature is the use of British ingredients to produce Italian cooking, alongside an “extremely pleasant Italian-biased wine list”, and fans say results are “incredible”. “The one gripe: as good as this is, it’s pricier than you’d expect”. Top Menu Tip – “love the Parmesan fries”.
Summary
“Upscale” two-year-old in Clerkenwell that’s an “unassuming-yet-special-feeling” cousin to the famous Clove Club, and whose quirky layout – “lots of different ‘zones’ in the restaurant, with a cosy bar at the front” and “funky” conservatory to the rear – creates a “delightful” setting for a meal. Its distinguishing culinary feature is the use of British ingredients to produce Italian cooking, alongside an “extremely pleasant Italian-biased wine list”, and fans say results are “incredible”. “The one gripe: as good as this is, it’s pricier than you’d expect”. Top Menu Tip – “love the Parmesan fries”.
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Luca?
Restaurant details
Luca Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Super reliable - premium food and premium-ish price"
"Must be just about the best up-market Italian restaurants in London"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £26.00 | £30.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 85.00 | Always available | 4 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £18.50 | £38.00 | £12.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £34.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.50 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 15.00% |
88 St John St, London, EC1M 4EH
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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