Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 3 and Version 2 of La Grolla, RM14 2SJ
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| La Grolla was an Italian restaurant in [[Locale Upminster|Upminster]]. It has now closed. As of late 2011, the premises are occupied by another Italian restaurant called [http://www.sorrentoupminster.co.uk/ Sorrento Ristorante Italiano]. |
Italian restaurant in [[Locale Upminster|Upminster]]. |
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The information below is retained for people who want to know what it used to be like. <div class="old_info"> Italian restaurant in [[Locale Upminster|Upminster]]. |
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category='Now Closed' edit_type='Normal edit' |
category='Italian Food,Restaurants,Step-Free Access' edit_type='Minor tidying' |
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host='81.187.166.218' hours_text='' major_change='1' |
host='213.165.225.132' hours_text='noon-2:30pm-ish, 6:30pm-close Mon-Sat; closed Sun' latitude='51.556373' locale='RM14,Upminster' longitude='0.250709' major_change='0' |
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opening_hours_text='' phone='' postcode='' summary='Now closed; was an old-fashioned Italian restaurant in Upminster.' summary='Old-fashioned Italian restaurant in Upminster.' |
opening_hours_text='noon-2:30pm-ish, 6:30pm-close Mon-Sat; closed Sun' os_x='556011' os_y='186619' phone='01708 224165' summary='Now closed; was an old-fashioned Italian restaurant in Upminster.' postcode='RM14 2SJ' summary='Old-fashioned Italian restaurant in Upminster.' |
Italian restaurant in Upminster.
It has a kind of old-fashioned Italian-restaurant ambience, with a low exposed-beam ceiling, carved panels on the walls showing grapes on the vine, a dark brown tiled floor, mustard-yellow tablecloths, and white linen napkins. Two or three tables at the front by the window get a decent amount of natural light during the day, but otherwise the lighting is low, provided by smoked-glass lantern-style lights mounted on the walls.
Kake visited late on a Monday lunchtime in June 2009. The place was fairly empty, with only four other customers in during my entire visit. Music was playing; piano/double bass jazz, and something Glenn Miller-ish.
I was offered bread and butter; I accepted, but it was quite unexciting, comprising a few thick slices of indifferent baguette accompanied by butter in packets straight from the fridge. I was also brought some crudites and dip. The crudites (red pepper, celery, carrot, cucumber) initially looked a bit tired but were actually quite fresh and flavourful. The dip appeared to be cocktail/Marie Rose sauce.
I decided to skip starters and go straight to the main event. My first choice, salmone alla zafferano (salmon in a dill and saffron cream sauce, £13.50) had run out, but they offered me john dory as a substitute. Instead, I decided to try the gamberi alla grolla (king prawns in a spicy tomato sauce, £14.50). Sides are ordered separately, so I asked for some spinach (£2.50) as well. They offered me a choice of garlic or plain spinach, and I went for the latter.
The prawns (four of them) were a good size, and decently cooked. The spicy tomato sauce wasn't overly spicy, just a little chilli tingle. It had a good flavour, though. The spinach was cooked very plainly, and flavoured with just a little olive oil, but it was competently done and not gritty at all. I really should have had the garlic option.
Overall, I thought my meal was nice enough, but rather expensive for what it was; my final bill was £20.50 before service. It wasn't made clear whether the bread and crudites would be charged for or not; in the event, the bill included a charge of £3.50 for "BB". This is a little poor; the bread certainly wasn't worth that amount of money on its own, and if they were going to charge me for the crudites then they should have asked me if I wanted them.
Accessibility: Step-free to get in, and everything including the toilets is on the same level once you're in.
See also:
List all versions