Fully Licensed Italian Restaurant

What the papers say

From "Times Group Newspapers", April 2000

La Gondola is a rustic yet refined Italian restaurant nestled in London Colney, St Albans. From first glimpse at the extensive menu and wine list, it is evident the owners are passionate lovers of fine food and wine. Customers are greeted by charismatic and relaxed waiting staff who make dining at this special culinary hideaway very memorable.

I started with prosciutto e melone (parma ham and melon) while my friends chose the avocado con gamberetti (avocado with walnuts, apple, prawns and sauce) and salmone alla russa (cornette of smoked salmon with crab and prawns). As tempting as these dishes sound, the presentation and, more importantly, the flavours were delicious.

For our main course, we indulged in some red meat. My guests opted for the filleto al tarragon (fillet steak cooked in a wine and tarragon sauce), bistecca alla Diana (sirloin steak cooked with onions, mushrooms, mustard and Worcester sauce flamed with brandy) and I ate the fegato alla Veneziana (calves liver cooked in white wine, onions, butter and tomato sauce). We competed to see who had the best meal but ended up agreeing the meals were all second to none. As a side platter, the chef chose a selection of cooked vegetables which included mangetout and courgettes.

La Gondola has a cheerful intimacy where you can relax while you eat - there is no scampering staff or diners constantly being seated around you. The customers here are in for the whole night.

After a breather, we marched on and summoned the dessert trolley and ordered the white profiteroles and strawberries.

My advice would be to make up any excuse to visit La Gondola because it really offers a wonderful dining experience.

From "Village Voice", July 1999

I've no doubt if you went to The Gondola Restaurant and asked for fast food, they would reply very charmingly - but the answer would be a polite "sorry!".
They don't believe in hurrying things. In fact, on the front page of their (very extensive) menu, they remind us: "Time is the most important ingredient in good cooking, so please bear with us...".
Now that's honesty, and perhaps food for thought if you're used to restaurants bringing your order to the table almost as soon as you've asked for it. You might wonder, "how did they do that...".
This delightful Italian restaurant, for a long time London Colney's best kept secret, offers wonderful service, an excellent kitchen and a marvellous menu that could have you going back time and again without eating the same meal twice.
There are well over a dozen choices in the antipasto section ranging from mixed Italian Hors D'Oeuvres to Snails in Garlic Butter Sauce.
Then there's an extensive choice of pastas, followed by a range of steaks, a mouth watering fish section to delight any seafood lover, and many of those wonderful Italian dishes based on chicken, veal, duck or liver. If that's not enough, there are also daily specials.

Opinion