Birthdays are anxiety-inducing – especially milestone ones. One restaurant that doesn’t seem to fear the pressure is Luca, which to mark its 10th birthday is taking over Belmond’s retro-glam British Pullman train for one night only on June 4.
Wedged in between the creative agencies and the furniture designers of London’s Clerkenwell neigborhood, just a hop and skip away from the Barbican (and, conveniently, Elite Traveler’s London offices), Luca opened in November 2016, offering what it called ‘Britalian’ cuisine (the area is part of London’s so-called Little Italy).
It wasn’t until 2023, though, that Luca made its ascension into the hall of fame and got its first Michelin star. Since, it has been routinely named as one of the city’s best Italian (or Britalian, to be precise) restaurants.
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For its 10th anniversary train takeover, Luca invites its guests to board the British Pullman’s Art Deco inspired carriages as the refurbished train departs London Victoria station mid-morning, weaves its way through the Kent countryside and turns around in Dover, pulling back into London at a very respectable 5pm.
As with the seasonal menu at the main restaurant, head chef Robert Chambers’ specially created four-course offering is based around British ingredients, with a dose of the famous Italian generosity. After a track-side pre-drink, Chambers will dish up Luca’s signature roast Orkney scallop with Jerusalem artichoke and nduja, followed by potato gnocchi, Romana courgette, Mazara prawns, and smoked stracciatella.
Entree is Hebridean lamb, with a lemon and rosemary polenta, and a summer caponata and black olive. Dessert is, of course, a tiramisu, with coffee and Amedei chocolate and honeycomb truffles to close. With each course comes a wine pairing selected from Luca’s Italian-leaning cellar.
Throughout the journey, the restaurant’s co-founders Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis will drop in on tables to share Luca’s story. As has become standard on-board British Pullman journeys, merry-making is to be expected, as is a crowd dressed to the nines.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Luca’s 10th anniversary year in such a fitting way,” says Smith. “The British Pullman is one of those truly iconic British institutions – the kind of setting that makes a meal feel genuinely special. We couldn’t think of a better way to mark a decade of Luca.”
Tickets for the one-day only lunch can be booked via Belmond for £685 (approx. $930) per person for a table of two and £545 (approx. $730) per person for a table for four.
