La Rugoletta Italian Restaurant - Such a lovely evening

La Rugoletta Italian Restaurant. Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Italian cuisine. Notice the green rocket motif.

Problem
Where to go for an evening meal in London. Indian or Italian? We looked at three restaurants. All seemed good.

The interior has paintings, wine bottles and flowers on the tables.

Answer
But when our wine buff saw that the Italian restaurant offered BYO, Bring Your Own bottle of alcohol, that clinched the decision.

La Rugoletta has two branches. The one which was nearest to our friends was closed. We didn't mind. I thought the smaller restaurant looked as if it had basic chairs. Were the seats and back broad enough for me. Never mind. We visited the larger, more chic restaurant.

We found parking free in the road outside after 6.30 pm, providing that you watch out for the double yellow lines on corners and other no go areas and read the signs.

One of the two smiling waitresses came forward to greet us immediately and showed us to our table. The place settings already set up with knives and forks and napkins and the menu, water glasses and wine glasses.

My trip to the ladies put me in a good mood from the start. It was conveniently nearby on the ground floor, no trip upstairs, nor down to a basement nor round the back of a building. It was spotlessly clean, white and gleaming chrome. Looked like it was installed yesterday.

For starters we ordered ravioli. It proved pleasing to look at and a satisfying taste and texture.

My main course was the classic chicken with white sauce and mushrooms and saute potatoes. I was in heaven.

The portions were large, large enough for me to have some wrapped up to take home.

We shared desserts. The chocolate soufflé eclipsed the other chocolate dessert, which as Okay, just not quite as zingy and moreish.

We had a candle on the table. And two roses.

Coffee came with a wrapped biscuit. I didn't have coffee. But I ate the biscuit!

At the end of the evening, I noticed a lady sitting at the back. I recognized her from the restaurant's website which I had looked at earlier in the day.

My first question to her was, what does La Rugoletta mean?

It means rocket, a variety of lettuce, which you see pictured on the front of the restaurant menu. Rocket has a peppery flavour.

I had been looking for a translation of the word on the internet earlier in the day without success. The usual Italian word for rocket is rucola. Rugoletta is Napolitan dialect. (From Naples, Italy.)

My other questions was: why does La Rugoletta offer BYO? We found BYO at restaurants all over New Zealand. BYO is much rarer in London, England, and other cities outside New Zealand.

The husband and wife team opened their first small restaurant intending to apply for the 'liquor license' as Americans would say. But customers were so keen on BYO that the restaurant stayed that way. The system suited both management and customers.

When they opened their second, larger, restaurant, they applied for the liquor license and you can order a sweet dessert wine with your dessert. However, you still have the option of BYO.

When we left the two young waitresses, one of whom was Romanian, had run to stand either side of the gate to smile at us and say goodbye and thank you.

La Rugoletta,
308 Ballards Lane,
Finchley
London
N12 0EY
Tel:+44 (0)208 445 6742
www.la-rugoletta.com