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Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci.  It seems to centre on the bitter rivalry between two women who fall for one man. 

What does this have to do with my visit this evening to the restaurant by the same name on Cleveland Street I hear you ask.   Well nothing as it happens; just a bit of useless information to show I do have some culture.  Anyway I couldn’t face eating in my hotel room this evening, so opted for an early dinner at La Cavalleria Rusticana on Cleveland Street.  I entered the restaurant at around 7pm and in the front dining room (seats 28) there was a family of four adults and three kids eating already.  I took my seat and ordered up from the plastic covered paper menu.  I went for a Minestrone Soup to be followed by Chicken breast with Asparagus in a cream sauce.  As I waited, I was delighted to notice that my table was covered in a plastic tablecloth with the ever popular paper napkin in evidence.  Looking for a quiet meal, I’d taken my paper along to read but unfortunately the kids on the table opposite made any attempt to concentrate on the news stories of the day, impossible.  The parents didn’t seem to notice just how loud (and lewd) their kids were. 

Anyway, the food arrived.  The soup was OK, nothing great but welcome on this cold evening.  My main course however was awful.  The watery veg to the left of the plate had more taste than the lifeless chicken and asparagus to the right.  The creamy sauce that covered this delicacy added nothing to my enjoyment.  A real disappointment, especially because the service was actually very warm and friendly to the point that I felt guilty at not enjoying the food.  I should add though, that the family opposite were clearly delighted about their fayre, because amongst the conversation about how they could pass their kids off as under 10 to get free travel on the underground, they kept saying the food was fantastic.  “This is wicked” was quite a popular phrase in between popping outside the restaurant for a smoke.

Anyway, I settled up my £20 bill and left; returning to my hotel wishing I’d opted for room service after all.

Pryordurkin Rating. 1 (for the service only)

Telephone 020 7383 7762

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