Fantastic family Italian restaurant

HOW very refreshing and reassuring to visit a classic establishment run by the same family since 1976. From Tuscany, near Lucca, Paolo and Virginia started Trattoria Lucca and is now run by their sons Luciano and Franco. Their wives and children all help and the family atmosphere is impressive.
Paolo at 84 is a youthful, charming man who seemed very much in control of the bar helped by a younger member of the family.
The restaurant, which sits 60, occupies three rooms with a small bar at the entrance. The tables are set with two tablecloths: a crisp white on a beautiful turquoise and wooden chairs with comfortable soft cushions.
With good support from residents, Trattoria Lucca deserves to be in the list of destination restaurants patronised by visitors to the many areas of interest in Camden.
The small à la carte menu which includes classic dishes such as Bressaola, Prosciutto e Melone, Mozzarella and Tomato Salad, Sea Bass in Fennel Sauce, Pollo Sorpresa, Penne all Arrabiata, Fegato alla Salvia, and Tournedos Rossini, is complimented by the dishes of the day which are written on a blackboard and brought and displayed on a chair next to you. You can take your time reading it. No rush.
However, if you had a lunch or dinner appointment they would serve you quite quickly.
When we asked for a glass of water a large cold one arrived “on the house”. No pressure to buy bottled water, a rarity nowadays. Also the choice of any two vegetables or a salad is included in the price of any meat or fish main course. No charge is made for the bread and butter nor the panini.
So for a home-away-from-home evening try their fresh asparagus (£4.95) and their homemade excellent minestrone (£3.50). We then had the Linguini alla Pescatora (£6.50) which was one of the dishes of the day and the Scaloppine di vitello Marsala. These came accompanied by sautéed potatoes and mange tout.
They have a selection of deserts from the trolley but I asked if the chef could prepare zabaglione for us. Chef Ramon, who has been at Trattoria Lucca for 12 years, presented us with two large glasses filled with the most delicious warm zabaglione.
Their house white wine Castelli Romani is dry and very good. At £9.75 per bottle, it must be one of the best buys in London. Head waiter Martin, who has worked at Trattoria Luca for many years, recommended the espresso with a zambuca to finish our meal.
I was delighted to see that the zambuca was properly served with coffee beans that had been lit. I always eat the beans.
I have been many times at this restaurant and have always been happy there. This visit was no exception. Carry on the good the work!

Trattoria Lucca                 Click here to book restaurants               

63 Parkway, NW1
020 7485 6864                         click here to go to Restaurant home page

Click here for two for one restaurant offer....enter "camden" when prompted