This was an impromptu meal so we just rang up half an hour before we needed a table and luckily managed to get one. I had been to Stocco before but it was a long time ago, but I remember that the food was nice so I thought it would be good to do a review this time.
1: First Impressions
The restaurant is really clean and has modern decor and when we arrived we were immediately greeted and asked if we wanted a table in the main part or a booth. We opted for a booth as I think they always feel a bit more intimate. We managed to get the one at the end nearest the window so had a great view of the whole of the restaurant.
2: The Experience
The minute we sat down the waitress was straight over to take our drinks order. I like it when you are not sat waiting for ages to grab someone's attention and can get things moving straight away. We orders a bottle of Pino grigio rose between 3 of us and one soda water and lime. The wine was reasonably priced for a restaurant as I think anything under £25 these days is reasonable. We also asked for a bottle of water for the table.
I ordered the tuna carpaccio as it's something I have always wanted to try and it definitely did not disappoint.
The tuna was wafer-thin slices that just pulled apart with ease and melted in the mouth. Really tasty with the olives capers and tomatoes and I enjoyed every mouthful. I let everyone have a try as I think it's probably something not everyone would think to order, but they all liked it when they tried it.
There was ample time between courses and it didn't feel rushed but we still felt attended to. Almost as soon as our glasses were empty someone was over to see if we wanted any more dinks.
For mains, I had the chicken with Gnocchi and a creamy mushroom sauce. Everything about my meal was gorgeous, the saice the way the gnocchi was cooked and the chicken skin was both crispy and beautifully seasoned. I didn't want the dish to end and even portioned out the chicken skin to make sure I had enough for each mouthful. By the end of the meal I was pleasantly full without being over-stuffed and feeling bloated.
3: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Great Food
Reasonably Priced
Cons:
Service is okay but no real interaction
No 'extras'
4: The Final Score
A excellent Italian and lovely food and good service, the staff were friendly but I couldn't tell you any of their names. I have given it 4 stars which is still a great score. I wouldn't say there was anything that was exceptional or above and beyond what you would expect. There were no 'extras' like mints with the bill or digestif after the meal, hot towel etc. Just the extra little things that make you feel valued as a customer. Would definitely be back again though for the food.
Stars definition can be found HERE