Lucio

Restaurant: Lucio
Location: London, UK
Address: 257 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HY
Rating: 7 out of 10

Such is my enthusiasm for vongole when it first arrives that I often neglect to take a photograph until it's been mixed (I will post a separate article on my views around mixing the vongole into the spaghetti vs not mixing it. Another area of debate exists around removing the clams from their shells at the start or as you progress).



Lucio is an excellent Italian restaurant in the heart of London's Chelsea. The menu is often diverse and creative, incorporating seasonal meats and vegetables where possible. However, being a fickle dish, the perfect spaghetti vongole eludes Lucio. I found the spaghetti to be expertly cooked, but the sauce was a little strong. I'm not sure why, but you can see from the photo the reddish hue, no doubt thanks to the tomato which may have given the dish a soupy consistency.

Flavours were definitely prominent, but the clams were just a little overpowered. I would definitely have vongole again at Lucio as I was intrigued by the individuality of their method.

RECOMMEND

2 Amici

Restaurant: 2 Amici

Location: London, UK

Address: 48 Rochester Row, London SW1P 1JU

Rating: 4 out of 10

Satisfactory presentation, but average flavour. The spaghetti was nicely al dente, but the clams and accompanying sauce were lacking in substance. Insufficient juices remaining for mopping up with bread. Unclear what purpose the chives served.

Overall an average effort, but passable for a midweek lunch if you happen to be walking past, but certainly not worth crossing town for.

MEDIOCRE

Ziani

Restaurant: Ziani
Location: London, UK
Address: 45 Radnor Walk, London, SW3 4BP
Date: May, 2010 
Rating: 8 out of 10

Ziani remains one of the best restaurants in London for spaghetti alle vongole. Note that in the above photo I had already mixed the clams into the spaghetti, hence the messy presentation.


The spaghetti is consistently al dente, not too oily and always with just the right hint of chilli. The clams are a good size and take the flavour well (occasionally I find poorly cooked vongole has a bland or metallic flavour that jars against the flavour of the spaghetti and juices -- not so at Ziani).


The size of the portion at Ziani is just right and leaves you wanting more but without being hungry. A good amount of mopping up juice remained in the bowl.


Ziani itself is in a quiet street in Chelsea and hence draws a local (well-heeled) crowd. It is buzzy most lunch and evenings and excellent for parties or simply a deux. It is small though, so call ahead and reserve.


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED