THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
A stroll through Marylebone village is pretty sweet any time. Living there is beyond reach for most of us, but a meal at Carlotta's at least gives a taste of la dolce vita!
From the moment I walked in, I just felt happy. The staff is superlative and every member exudes charm as though this attribute is completely natural! Our waitress, Elisa, was an absolute gem.
The ambiance is a fabulous mix of glam-Italian and family-run trattoria. There are plush leather banquettes and the lighting, in all its guises, is just brilliant. Drapes and art are punctuated with family photos from the staff. Downstairs has a distinct club feel, its soft curves covered in stripes of mirror with an open kitchen adding bustle to the buzz.
Head Chef Armando excels in the role of "Big Mamma", mixing classic recipes from his nonnaa with innovation. This blend is mirrored in the bar. A Chedroni (£11) added chamomile and Nardini Aqua de Cedro (citrus liqueur) for a softer Negroni. A Serpentino Martini (£12) became rounder with Marsala and vanilla bitters. Gin and vanilla is surprisingly good! Ginilla?
Carciofi alla giudia - deep-fried artichokes (£12) - were perfectly crisp with a lovely bit of char on the outer leaves and served with lemon and garlic aïoli. From the Jewish community in Rome, this dish has become a classic in Italian cuisine and Chef Armando does it very well.
Fresh and confit cherry tomatoes (£12) with smoky stracciatella, basil and a garlic, balsamic dressing is Italian at its best. Fine ingredients in perfect balance, hitting every note on the palate. Fresh and delicious, I slurped up every drop.
Next, we shared spaghetti with Sicilian Rosso di Mazara prawns (£35). As exquisite as these highly prized prawns are, three the size of my pinkie seemed a bit meager for the price tag, served in the shell it was a struggle to extract the delicate flesh, and they weren't properly de-veined. That said, the dish was divine. The thick spaghetti was perfectly al dente and the bisque was rich and full of flavor.
Cornish lamb chops Milanese (£29) was a show stopper. Stuffed with fior di latte, a creamy mozzarella, wrapped in pancetta, breaded and deep fried, they were melt-in-the-mouth good. A roasted pepper cream was a perfect condiment.
Crunchy layered potatoes (£6.50) - wafer thin slices, pressed, cut into chips, flavored with Parmesan and fried - were simply gorgeous, and broccoli with chilli and garlic (£5) a green dream.
A bottle of Sangiovese Toscana, I.G.T. Terraluna, 2016 (£92) was worth every penny. Full and smooth with beautifully soft tannins, I would love a case of it!
Tiramisu (£8) was an excellent take on the classic, but Italian chocolate tart (£11) took the cake! Salted caramel chocolate ganache in a crisp chocolate cookie crust nestled on an entire plate of whipped cream and topped with a magnificent coffee praline. After that, my only wish was to jump straight into the Trevi!
