Al Duca

I was so livid at the poor attitude of the staff here that I had to write a review. It looks as if a lot of people have had the same experience reading the reviews below, but really - for the price or a meal in this place you'd think that they could muster up a little bit of common courtesy.

Their 'greeter' was the least accommodating and welcoming women I have ever encountered. We arrived at 6.15pm and said that we wanted the pre-theatre dinner. Before being seated we were asked if we wanted water and were met with a disapproving frown when I said we wanted to see the menu first. Then we were given the standard menu (which incidentally is a minimum of 2 courses for £23.50!) When I asked for the pre-theatre menu (again) I was told that I couldn't have it as we had to be out by 7pm if we wanted it! The manager upon hearing this comment leaned over and said he was prepared to make an exception - cue much sighing and stomping away by said greeter who then ungraciously thrust the new menus at us.

I asked for 2 glasses of Prosecco and we shared a bottle of water. In fairness the food was pretty good. I had pasta with bacon, turnip tops and a lot of garlic which was very tasty. My friend had a basic but nice spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce. Desserts were okay, the tiramisu was a deconstructed little number in a crisp cup of wafer. My friend had chocolate ice-cream. I couldn't help but think they had a good mark-up margin on the meals for the £15.50 we paid for their set menu though (again a 2 course minimum.)

Another big gripe was the fussing over the tables which totally inhibited conversation and made us feel quite uncomfortable. I started counting the amount of times that arms were thrust in front of us to remove cutlery, glasses, even salt and pepper; brush away crumbs, add cutlery, etc! We had over 10 visits from the waiting staff - my friend commented they were obviously trying to justify the obligatory 12.5%. I would have been far happier if they'd just left us be - or at least cleared everything at the same time!

So, next we had the happy task of calling for the bill. Checking through it I realised that we had been charged for more expensive glasses of wine. I queried this with the waitress who then referred me to our friend the 'greeter.' The women snappily told me that they had run out of Prosecco, but that the waitress had told me this before bringing our glasses of replacement wine. I told her that nothing had been said to us and we had assumed we were drinking what we ordered. Without saying a word the women stalked off to tell the manager! The implication being that we were lying! The manager (who in fairness seemed a nice chap embarrassed by her appalling manners) said that he would only charge the price of the Prosecco. The whole thing was just so classless and crass that it made me furious - I shouldn’t have had to be handled by 3 different members of staff for a mistake made by them. The greeter then slammed the new bill in front of us without a word - again, pointedly turning her back and walking away. We paid the new bill and left.

Although the food was pretty good and the manager seemed helpful and flexible, I was so disgusted by the manners (or lack of) by that particular member of staff that I would actively discourage people from visiting.
View/Add comments (1)

RC - London
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Friday, April 13, 2007

We took two very good clients to Al Duca for lunch today. Despite having taken a call at 9am to confirm our 1.30pm table, we were told to "go next door to the pub" as our table was not available at the confirmed time. At 1.45pm we were told the table would be ready "in 2 minutes". After receiving menus, a wine list, and the specials (which subsequently ran out) whilst standing-up in the entrance hall we finally sat down just after 2pm.

After creating somewhat of a fuss, the GM, Salvatore Broccu, comped us one bottle of wine. We were still left with a bill of £172 for lunch and two less-than-impressed clients.

I would not recommend this restaurant and, in fact, would advise all readers to choose from one of the many other good restaurants in the area.
Comment on this reader review

Ben Hudson
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 29, 2007

A truly disappointing experience!!!

Very bad service accompanied by bad food.

My seabass was so fishy that people form the other side of the table could smell it. It came with soggy vegetables.

The stuff was rude beyond belief!

I am definitely not coming back. I felt more insulted there than served!
Comment on this reader review

Tatiana
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Friday, December 15, 2006

I ate at Al Duca last night with my girlfriend. The evening started on a bad note as we arrived 10 minutes early for our 8pm reservation and were told our table was not ready ('Maybe 15 or 20 minutes!') and that perhaps we should go to the adjacent pub for a drink. Welcoming to say the least. We returned 20 minutes later and our table was still not ready. The Manager welcomed certain guests that arrived in the meantime very sychophantically and provided them with glasses of free champagne. We were told our table was still not yet ready and received no such treatment.

We were shown to our table over 20 minutes late. Simple courteous service was lacking:

- chair not pulled out for my partner

- not asked which vodka I'd like when ordering a vodka martini

Small stuff but the basics are important and tend to mount up when gotten wrong!

The meal began fairly well and the starters were good. Things dropped down another level when our mains were thrust under our noses immediately following retreival of our starters. Began to suspect we were being rushed through our meal to clear the table for the next guests. Throughout the meal, clearing arms were regularly thrust passed my nose, even while still chewing. This suspicion confirmed when after finishing our meal our waitress offered us coffee without offering us a dessert menu.

The main course was bland (we both had the veal) and from a cuisine perspective is something I would expect anyone at home to be able to cook for an evening meal. The gravy was too rich to be served on veal and the plate was devoid of complementary or even contrasting flavour.

Service aside, the restaurant is not a good place for couples. It was full of business men and corporate regulars. When full the restaurant is also deafeningly loud. The atmosphere is one of ongoing business meetings.

Having finished our entire meal in a rushed 30 mintues, we ended the evening deciding to give dessert a miss. I politely refused to pay the discertionary 12.5% service charge and would not return there again. I really viewed the evening as a wasted 60 pounds.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Thursday, December 14, 2006

We thought that this was probably the best restaurant meal we have ever had! My starter of poached egg,with a parmesan crisp, bacon slice,mushroom and truffel shavings was out of this world. My wife had the seared scallops which were mouth wateringly tender. We both thoroughly enjoyed the linguine con vongole,and the veal and medallions of beef main courses were fantastic.The icing on the cake was finishing with their Tiramisu. Service was well timed as were off to the theatre and their choice of wine was just right.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 29, 2006

I occassionally pop in to Al Duca when in the area for lunch for one. Always a warm reception from the staff, always a good Montepulciano house red.

The well thought through menu has always offered a great seleciton and the quality is usually very good.

If you're after a good unpretentious Italian food, good atmosphere and good service you can't go far wrong with this one.
Comment on this reader review

Alex West
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

i went for Lunch today. myself and one of my colleague.

this little restaurant is always been one of my favourites and Salvatore (the manager) is a charmed one for sure.

i had the signature dish with the poached egg and parmesan disk and some stew of baby octopus....so devine!
Comment on this reader review

Clive
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 20, 2006

Disappointing. The quality of the dishes is very variable. I had high expectations after starting with an excellent and creative cauliflower pannacotta. The flavour of the vegetable leaped out of the fine texture of the pannacotta. The only warning signal was the not crispy enough accompanying bacon slice.

Things touched a seriously bad note with my partner's squid salad. It was of that rubber variety, you know, the unmistakable hallmark of cheap seafood restaurants. The pasta dishes raised the quality level again, mainly because of the very nice homemade pasta itself - the rabbit and artichokes sauce with the pappardelle worked reasonably well, but the swordfish sauce with the garganelli was bland. There was a consistent continuation: our 'secondi piatti' were...rabbit (cacciatora) and swordfish, and it was the triumph of blandness (and it takes some effort to make a cacciatora tasteless). I do not understand how a serious chef (which he showed he is with the starter) can allow such mediocre food to get out of his kitchen's door. In fact, I suspect the head chef must not have been there; or maybe he had been tied to the oven and prevented from protesting.

The service was distant but at least professional, helped anyway by the fact that there were only three tables with custormers. My expectations for their performance with a full house are not optimistic. I will never know: I am not going back.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Sunday, April 16, 2006

simply the best italian food i've eaten in london. great service with genuinely friendly staff and with such great value for money I'll definately be going back.
Comment on this reader review

D Wetherby
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

As the restaurant is located very close to my office, it is a frequent choice for business lunches. The service is always very good and I have never been kept waiting. I am always pleased with the food and have never been disspointed. It also very nice that the staff always remember and greet me by name. Highly reccommended.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 10, 2006