Locanda Locatelli

Superb!! I can't believe the negative reviews! Three of us went there last night and it was the best meal we have eaten in years. The service was friendly and impeccable - no over zealous waiters topping up your wine after each mouthful. Celine Dion was at the table next to us, but we were treated the same as her. To start we had asparagus, carpaccio and squid - all delicious. We all tried different pasta dishes for entrees: ragu, sardine and prawn - each was cooked to perfection. The desserts were to die for and even the coffee with accompanying amaretti biscuits was superb. There is a wonderful ambiance in the restaurant and we loved it. We will be returning as often as possible.

How disappointing. The food ranged from average to bad, the service was cold and unfriendly (although efficient).
The highlight of the meal was a fresh mozzarella ball with tomato salad - the cheese itself was fantastic, but involved no genius from the chef. Our langoustine spaghetti was so 'blah'. One of the mains, a lasagne with cod, was downright disgusting. The veal was OK (only just), the lamb excellent.

Expensive, with service designed to make you feel like nobody. The highlight was the celebrity spotting: Camilla Parker-Bowles with her sons, Boris Becker and, of course, Giorgio himself.

Food was tasty but would agree with comments that it was overpriced for what it was. Value for money has to include the service when being considered. I would also agree that the service was not as I expected. For those who have vindicated the service in the reviews below I would just like to point out that they all state that they are regular diners at Locanda Locatelli. I think being a regular diner ANYWHERE you would receive (and expect to) exceptional service. I think the comments on service not being as expected have been posted by individuals visiting for their first time - and now consequently have no reason to return.

From my experience I saw the warm welcome and quick service regulars received. Regulars were greeted as old friends, seated and served immediately. For the first time diner the service was less refined and quite stop-start due to there being so many different people responsible for our table (a wine waiter, food waiter, water waiter, bread waiter), and the hand-over between them was not seamless (as, for example, it is at Claridges). Our wine arrived before our water, our bread arrived with our starter.

Overall, no matter how delicious the food is, the service and ambience are equally important reasons to return or, in this case, not. To be kind, it was a busy Friday night and everyone has an 'off' night, or perhaps there may have been new staff. To be more blunt, regulars on the same night visibly did not receive this treatment. Maybe there are sufficient regulars that there is no need to convince new diners to return?

Lastly, as beautiful as the decor is, the space is cramped. The tables around the edge of the room (as in the picture on this site) are very close together and need to be moved for people to be seated and causes tense moments as you hold on to your wine glass as the regular sat next to you squeezes their well-fed bottom out to hug the maitre'd for a second time!

If you do wish to go to try the lovely food, here are a few tips:

1. Hug the maitre'd effusively and pretend to be a regular, even if you are not (takes a bit of nerve but should provide results!).

2. When booking, request a table in the main floor and not placed around the edge of the room. Tables in the centre have enough space to allow diners to leave the table and use the facilities if required!

3. If seated in a table around the edge, make friends with the couple next to you (you will hear all their conversations anyway, and that way you can join in!).

For exceptional service for first time diners, private romantic conversations and room between tables, go somewhere else.

Five of us were there for lunch recently. Food was good, service not so good. We were waiting for 10-15 minutes for the waiter just to clean the table and change the plates.

I went yesterday to dine for the first time. Amazing food, superb quality. The service was great, in a friendly atmosphere. The waiter had an excellent menu knowledge that had my friends and I eagerly anticipating the food with mouths watering. This is what I call food heaven! Keep going like this, Giorgio. BRAVO!

The food is excellent and the staff very professional. One of my favourite restaurants in London.

Wonderful, as always. Service and food still great on my recent visit last week. This has always been the case on each of my regular visits, so I cannot understand the negative reviews on this site.

Really good - but not as amazing as everyone claims. It's good for celebrity spotting but you get better Italian at the River Cafe.

Wow! It's interesting to see the same negative comments made by the same people on other websites! Diego? What ya so angry about??? A disgruntled ex-employee prehaps? Or maybe a jealous business rival? This is the only way I can comprehend these comments. I eat here on a regular basis and every time is better then the last. The food is simple, clean and exactly what you would get in Italy. Bravo Locatelli!

I have eaten at Locanda Locatelli on three occasions and each experience has been a real pleasure. Both Giorgio and Plaxy are very welcoming. On my mother's birthday Giorgio came out of the kitchen to welcome us and prepared an absolutely delicious lunch, which was second to none! It was a really special day, and one which none of us will forget. I thoroughly recommend them.

The most lovely Italian waiters. Gorgeous food and fantastic wine list. Roast goat as a special was superb. Child friendly and celeb full! I will be a regular.

I have been to Locanda Locatelli many times and am surprised with the reviews on this website. It is the only London restaurant that offers a wonderful and extensive wine list where the house wine starts at £12. The staff have always been friendly and courteous and the food is just magnificent. What people forget is that this is northern Italian traditional food, with carefully chosen ingredients, not fancy, poncy French cuisine. I suggest that the reviewers go to places like The Ivy or Nobu and then write about overpriced average food, served by snotty robots!

I love Locanda Locatelli. It's been a regular and favourite of mine for the last six years. The gnocci with truffle is 'to die for' as is the rabbit in parma ham with polenta. Even the most simple of salads is heavenly. Exquisite food in exquisite surroundings, with brilliant service (Roberto is a diamond). Unlike many restaurants of celebrity chefs, LL actually lives up to all the hype, never fails to deliver and leaves you planning your next visit. You won't be disappointed! Save some room for the handmade chocolates that arrive with the coffee - they're the best in the world!

Bland tortellini in broth, undercooked pork (made to feel it was my fault - "next time, tell us, and we will cook it more"). Asked for a cab which never arrived. Georgio came out and spent time at celeb tables only - quite unlike Raymond Blanc who goes round each table thanking them. Unseasoned food - but at least there was salt and pepper on the tables. And don't get me started on the service... To think, I spent an hour trying to book the table and our bill for 2 came to almost £300!

I went to Locanda Locatelli last night. Both the service and the atmosphere were very good. However, I must say I have never felt so ripped off.

I had smoked mozzarella as starter. A tiny portion for which I had to wait half an hour. Nothing special. The main course was simply beyond belief. I asked for filled pasta (not because I was trying to save money - I am Italian and I eat pasta every day) for which I had to wait 45 minutes. When it came, there were only 5 small cold tasteless units. Three quarters of my plate was empty.

Reading the exceedingly good reviews and noticing that this is a Michelin starred restaurant, I wonder if I missed something...

It is simply an average restaurant in the West End.

Great restaurant. Everything about it was spot on. Very plush. Efficient service. Brilliant.

It's not fair to charge so much for just above average food.

The food here is unbelievably average for the prices they charge. Flavours are heavy handed or absent altogether. The aspiring model hostesses are forgetful and rude. The only reason I would see for going to this restaurant is because it is close to shopping (Oxford Street) and the interior decoration is gorgeous. In fact if I could have eaten the room I would have been happier. Don't waste your money here.

Couldn't find much to fault here - the service, food, atmosphere and design were fantastic. It's one of my favourite restaurants in London - highly recommended!

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