One of the nicer restaurants at the Trafford Centre, and part of their recent upmarket push. Carluccios is in the Great Hall, next to the main eating and dining area, but the main difference is that you can - weather permitting - dine outside.

I visited in June 2008, and since it was a sunny day we decided to eat outside. There's space for around six tables, and you face out on to the elaborate courtyard between the Trafford Centre and the car park. Within a minute we'd placed our order (I was in a rush) and the food came within ten minutes - this was actually exceptional service, since there's a bizarre three minute walk from the outside, to the inside, as you have to go via the main doorway. The poor serving staff have to take the food on this route, and if you want to pay via card then you have to make this walk too. Inside there's a lot more seating, and it was very busy.

The food was acceptable, if slightly disapointing. The entrance to the inside restaurant has a deli (on the left) and this - and the fact that the restaurant is owned/branded by Antonio Carluccio - led me to believe that the food would be something special. To me, it was not, and I found my pasta dish to be a little dry and uninspired. My dining partners dish was slightly better, but she commented: "Nothing Special".

The bill at the end reconfirmed that this should have been much better than it was. The service, and the ability to enjoy the sunshine with your food, was a plus, but the food was not.


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