Trullo

Our first visit to Trullo and what a revelation. Looks like nothing from the outside (and the setting on St Paul's Road is dreary, busy with traffic and uninviting). The inside is also nothing to write home about – but oh, the food. The glorious, different, special, lovingly-prepared food. So wonderful. And staff that know the menu inside out and will spend as long as you want explaining it all to you. And they make you feel they are delighted to have you. You can tell they take real pride in the fact that all their food is cooked from scratch there during the afternoon. The salads stood out – leaves carefully chosen to balance each other in colour, texture and flavour and the most delicious dressing I have tasted in a long time. The olive oil for dipping bread was spicy and sharp – if you've ever tasted a ‘moreish’ olive oil (I hadn't), then this was it. When the mains arrived, everything lived up to expectations. Unusual ragu for me and a melting beef dish for him. The bill for 2 mains, 2 salads and a bottle of water, with bread and olives, came in shy of £60. We will be back – indeed we tried to get back tonight but the tables all taken. I am not surprised. I just hope this review doesn't drive hundreds to their door. Just in case, we've booked 2 weeks away!!! Truly excellent all round.

What a shame ! Anyone who has read my reviews (not vain enough to think you do !) will know that I'm a "glass half full' person. So imagine, hard, intense day. Looking forward to trying Trullo out – booking made by our foodie friends who rave about their previous experience. I'm late for the 7.30pm time, unavoidably due to deadlines. Get there to be met outside with desperate young down and out dirty, desperate addict – I can't pass by without giving but am struck at the contrast just behind the glass. Dislike this area, always have. Don't get to do more than kiss my wife and greet our friends before a good looking charming waiter tells me that I can't have a starter as we must vacate the table by 9.30pm. Oh dear, wouldn't have come on this basis – who's supplying whom ? What tosh – ordered cabbage with brown shrimp – prep time 30 seconds, on table within 60. Cost of ingredients, 50p max (nice mark-up!) taste, surprisingly good. Value – not so sure. Wine – friend is knowledgeable so not bad but not cheap at over 22 quid at lower end of list. Onglet – yes the best bit of the meal, not tough and a tasty but again very cheap cut. Followed immediately by a reminder that we must leave and the bill. The staff were apologetic but no less crass. The Squaremeal review above suggests a cheapish place to eat, but the bill for four came to 186 pounds (rounding) which means that although the atmosphere was really quite good and the staff individually trying hard, this is going to rank very low indeed for a return trip even making allowances -as I have- for my own lateness. Sorry.

After waiting 3 months to get a table at this restaurant I can only say that I was bitterly disappointed. My first course was ok,our main course was tasteless and dessert was okay. The food was unexciting (can cook better at home) and very overpriced. I must say that the staff were knowlegable and very receptive to our criticism and threw in dessert but unfortunately we will definitely not be going back.. DO NO T AND I REPEAT DO NOT RUSH (you can't because you have to wait so long for a table ) to this restaurant because there are hundreds of better restaurants in London – we are spoilt for choice – and this should not be your choice. Shame so looking forward to it…

This place is fantastic. great food on a menu that changes regularly. Brilliant value and great service. Islington has a new number 1 restaurant. Well done.

This is quite simply the best restaurant in Islington. After the sad passing of the Gill Wing Cafe and an absurd pc disaster which followed it, the premises have languished for too long and then suddenly, from nowhere, perfect short delicious menu, excellent wines, charming service and already crowded. Almost too good to be true – enjoy it quick before it fades.