Eat & Drink
Mediterranean - Italian
Bar
Restaurant
Conference centres
Function Services
Restaurant function & party areas

De Luca Cucina & Bar (Cambridge)

Details
- SERVICE
  - exclnt
    
    55%
  - good
    
    36%
  - fair
    
    9%
  - poor
    
    0%
  - terrible
    
    0%
- FOOD
  - exclnt
    
    73%
  - good
    
    23%
  - fair
    
    5%
  - poor
    
    0%
  - terrible
    
    0%
- ATMOSPHERE
  - exclnt
    
    55%
  - good
    
    45%
  - fair
    
    0%
  - poor
    
    0%
  - terrible
    
    0%
- VALUE
  - exclnt
    
    41%
  - good
    
    36%
  - fair
    
    23%
  - poor
    
    0%
  - terrible
    
    0%
14 Reviews
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Useful

What we thought

De Luca Cucina on Regent Street is the kind of place in which merriment seems to generate spontaneously. Everybody in here, on each one of this reviewer's visits, just seemed so happy - thrilled, really, by the ambiance, the meal, each others' company. What is the secret?

For sure, the food has a lot going for it: it's plentiful, and wholesome, and quite reasonably priced. Much the same can be

The kind of place in which merriment seems to generate spontaneously

said for the wine list, a cracking assemblage of strong personalities from the Old and New worlds. Still, one finally comes away feeling that the success of De Luca owes less to culinary distinction than to its super-accommodating template. It's a place where first-daters, families celebrating a parents' anniversary, tables of business-types, and Hen parties (the kind that occasionally shoots party poppers into the air) are all likely to feel that this is just their kind of place.

The restaurant maintains a few different dining spaces. In addition to the main floor (surprisingly airy, thanks to a skylight), there is a cocktail bar on the top floor and a first-floor function room seating 32. Those electing to dine in the slightly-separate bar area will have an easy view into the kitchen, which - right in step with the popular kitchen-culture obsession of recent years - is open plan. The look of the main room is stark, stylish Italian: clean lines, lustrous white-cushioned chairs, a sleek black bar stocked with an impressive cocktail arsenal. The vibe is professional and friendly. Servers are courteous and alert, and know how to serve food gracefully and then beat a retreat when a table wishes to be left alone.

We tried lots of food, all fine, some better. Meals start with a bowl of crusty/fluffy bread cubes, dull by themselves but an effective ferry for some delicious olive oil and balsamico, smartly poured at table. Starters are pleasant runs through familiar territory. An insalata caprese featured a mild, chewy mozzarella and some fruity olives; prime beef carpaccio had a full, meaty flavour and a fine peppery rocket salad for garnish. A slab of duck liver pate was a touch too creamy, and served with unremarkable bread that hadn't quite made it to toast. The onion jam condiment, though, was a sticky-sweet treat, and may be eaten with a spoon.

The mains span pasta and risottos (classic and otherwise) and a series of meaty secondi with custom potatoes and greens. The kitchen's pan sauces, from the brandy-and-mushroom cream sauce robing a pan-roasted chicken breast to the green peppercorn sauce slathering a sirloin, are pull-no-punches rich, and guaranteed to draw life from the hardest customer. Those dishes make for good, solid eating. A special risotto of sea bass and asparagus fared less well: the risotto was properly cooked but very under-seasoned; the seabass, a thin fillet atop a grey risotto mound, seemed unaware of its surroundings; and the asparagus nuggets were so few and far between that happening upon one provided a definite if not entirely welcome feeling of victory. But linguine ai frutti di mare hit the spot: a healthy bowlful of fat mussels, many squid ringlets, some unobstrusive clams, and a rather chipper-looking langoustine, arrayed casually over much linguine. So tactile and buttery, they'll drop a fingerbowl on the table before you ask.

We tried one dolci, a pear and almond tart served with vanilla ice cream. It was fine, especially the ice cream, and a worthwhile indulgence for two otherwise sated individuals. De Luca serves illy coffee: americano and macchiato orders were well-crafted and presented with finesse. A couple of after-dinner drinks featuring some of that excellent coffee, including an espresso martini, will certainly tempt us next time.

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Local Secrets member L 1 Reviews
August 8th 2012

Yummy

My favourite restuarant in Cambridge hands down! Food is always declicious as are the cocktails and prosecco, Paul is an excellent host, as are all the staff... can't fault it!!
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Anne M 1 Reviews 1 helpful
November 5th 2011

Review posted by Anne M

We both enjoyed an excellent meal in every way. I had two seafood courses both delicious and my husband said his soup was very tasty and his fillet steak was the best he had ever eaten (and he has eaten many !!) Anne and Richard.
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Sylvia P 1 Reviews 1 helpful
June 21st 2011

Review posted by Sylvia P

Tasty food but our group felt that the portions were a bit too small.
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Claire N 1 Reviews 1 helpful
April 30th 2011

Review posted by Claire N

It was yummy and we all enjoyed it. The meat balls were tasty and it was nice. Thank you for the yummy food.
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Jan P 1 Reviews
April 16th 2011

Review posted by Jan P

We'd not been to this restaurant before. We found it a very hospitable venue with young staff, keen to please. The food did take a while to arrive but as this was a special evening for us, that didn't matter too much. When it came it was freshly prepared and delicately dressed to bring out the natural flavour of the ingredients. It was a Saturday night so very full (and
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Huw T 1 Reviews
April 15th 2011

Review posted by Huw T

I have rarely known a restaurant that takes such meticulous care over its food.
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Richard I 1 Reviews
April 6th 2011

Review posted by Richard I

My wife and I had a fantastic evening at DeLuca. The food was exceptional and the waiting staff brilliant.
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