Other branches of Ottolenghi in London:
Notting Hill (Main Branch) Giles Coren's review of Ottolenghi (The Times)Ottolenghi reviews
A meal does not get better than this... not even in Michelin-starred restaurants! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the food is amazing. I have NEVER tasted tuna like it before. I am so glad we went, and will definitely return.
by grwe, 30 Jan 2008The Ottolenghi in Notting Hill is just amazing! The food is incredibly good looking and absolutely delicious. The staff are very obliging and outgoing, in a word - charming. The French waitresses especially deserve a mention, as they seemed extremely dedicated. I will definitely take friends there.
by mabloody, 18 Oct 2007We have been to Ottolenghi two or three times now, and each time we have had fantastic service from the charming staff, especially the Polish waitresses. Everyone is friendly and obliging, and the food is just superb. Each time we have had a different choice of dishes and each time the cooking seems to get tastier and more delicious. We cannot praise this place highly enough. We think the food standard, the service standard and the general ambience are just terrific. We also think the pattiserie section is just to die for, especially the chocolate rum fondant cake. And the bread, especially the corn bread, is just wow! We only wish there was a branch of Ottolenghi near where we live here in Mill Hill, London.
by Lister, 20 Sep 2007Yesterday we discovered Ottolenghi. The beautiful display of food and, in particular, pattiserie 'wowed' us and enticed us in. Unfortunately, the service did not match up. 4 girls for 5 customers in a queue, 4 customers of whom were just ignored. We waited 20 mins before anyone asked would we like to be served, and then sat in the bar section another 25 mins and still our order was not taken. We finally just left.
I would like to stress that the place was not busy (7 people sitting at the tables and 2 others at the bar), so it would appear the staff simply could not be bothered. The guys who were sat next to us at the bar had been sitting there since before we came in and had still not been served either. They just wanted some pattiseries and some drinks to go, the same as us.
The girl behind the counter was very slow on the food section - almost like she had not handled food herself. I am a trained chef and I can say looking at the food and patisserie that it looked superb. Which is why it's such a shame that the service is so poor.
Mr Ottolenghi, I don't know where you are getting your serving staff, but they are seriously letting your business down.
Fantastic food, all made on the premises. Great ambiance, always packed. Clean and welcoming.
by Anonymous, 06 Mar 2007The salads are fab, the corn bread is to die for! And the staff are wonderful too - I don't recognise Ellie's experience at all. I live in Islington and it's where I always go if I have any spare time.
by crazymango, 02 Mar 2007When I visit my brother in Islington I always go in. I adore the presentation and selection of the sweets as you enter. Now, when friends are travelling over from Ireland, I send them there. It's very popular in my house.
by Anonymous, 30 Jan 2007I can't believe someone said the staff were rude, I've found them the most helpful and friendly in London! Our waitress and hostess were so charming, and the food absolutely lush. Shows that with food that fresh and tasty it fills you up proper.
by Anonymous, 24 Jan 2007We get food to take out most weekends. I can recommend the sweet potato bread, salads, and the almond croissants - delicious!
by Anonymous, 29 Sep 2006While on a trip to Islington, I looked in the shop window at all the goodies, enticing you in, and sure enough I had to go inside, and I chose 2 very large Meringues that came home with me to Hampshire...just DELICIOUS!
The lines from a certain film seem appropriate. "I'II Be Back!"
Next time I shall eat inside, as their was everything imaginable, sweet as well as savory....can't wait.
Not the cheapest, but as my partner says...you get what you pay for, and this is definitely the case with Ottolenghi. Keep up the wide range of delicious foods.
Can't wait to come back to my favorite part of London, with my favorite theatre and now my favorite delicatessen.
The food is tasty, but very expensive for what it is (£7 for a small salad!).
However, the service was the worst I have ever had in London. My friend and I were served by an incredibly rude waitress who scowled constantly and actually grabbed my friend's credit card from her hand at the end of the meal-in spite of the fact we had been polite and courteous to her throughout our visit.
We spoke to the manager about it at the end, who was entirely ineffectual and promised us "...some sort of discount next time you're in." There won't BE a next time.
It's become a tradition of mine to have breakfast at Ottolenghi and I have to admit that it's the best time to go as it's nice and peaceful, the staff are very helpful and the food just couldn't be more fresh. Just a great eating experience that everyone should enjoy - I assure you you will want to go as often as possible.
by babyandme, 28 Jan 2006I've eaten here a few times whilst visiting friends in Islington. Attractive display of breads and cakes in the window and lots of other tasty looking snacks available in the deli section as you walk in.
The service is mostly ok - there have been a few hiccups but nothing that can't be forgiven. While the minimalist decor mostly works for me, I don't like the seating as you feel rather too close to the other diners - it's far from being a cosy, personal or romantic dining venue. I was also caught out on my first visit with a starter they serve UNLESS you ask them not to. This seems a somewhat unnecessary break with convention to me.
Aside from these minor issues, the food is just fantastic with inventive cooking, fresh ingredients and delicious flavours. It's not cheap, but worth every penny and I shall definitely return.
One of my favourite restaurants in London. Simple white decor, friendly service, amazing food made with really high quality ingredients - it's just brilliant.
Just as good as the Notting Hill branch, but with an alcohol license, seating, and better opening hours.
Wonderful food! Ottolenghi manages to do simple and amazingly tasty food really bursting with freshness and herbs. Perfect place to have a healthy lunch or early evening bite in a stylish (very white) location. Only gripe is the shared main table - but this lends itself to an overall 'very cool cafe' feel rather than a restaurant for a long lingering supper.
The cakes from the deli are also to die for!
The food is wonderfully imaginative, whilst still being delicious and healthy. Plus, it's all reasonably priced and displayed beautifully. A real treat.
by janetawe (2 reviews), 10 Nov 2004It's a joy - beautiful to look at, delicious, reasonably-priced food and charming staff.
by Anonymous, 30 Oct 2004Ottolenghi in Islington opens later than the Notting Hill branch and has much more dining space. The food is healthy and delicious and it's now my favourite place for dinner or just a light snack when I'm in Islington.
by crimson "top london reviewer" (34 reviews), 24 Oct 2004Have we missed a great cafe in London? Let us know.
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