Carluccio's

Trish owes me some photos from this restaurant, one that I'd been meaning to try for 2 months. Admittedly it is a chain (so many places in London are) but it is good quality, reasonably priced Italian in a pleasant setting both times I've been (once in St Johns Wood and once at Bicester Village).

The calamari was spot-on perfect (not too chewy or mushy, lightly fried), decent olives and salada mista. We're working our way through the mains, both the penne ligunica and spaghetti ala vongole were very tasty indeed .. and as for dessert, their bitter chocolate gelato is still the best so far!

It often feels like cheating eating out at Italian (when it is so easy to make yourself) but it's a guaranteed crowd pleaser .. even if Italy did steal the World Cup from us.