Il Bordello

Perfect meal, perfect service, we spent near on £80 for the two of us and whilst finishing our Irish Coffee after paying the bill, was asked by the waiter if we could please leave our table. I understand that the restaurant is busy, but on leaving found that there was about 7 empty tables and no-one waiting to be seated so we was a bit upset that we was asked to leave, when we was having a chat over finishing our drinks. The waiter seemed friendly and we chatted with him between our courses, so it was not as though we had affended him. We have eaten here many times before and have never encountered this before, we left feeling very let down after having such a great meal. We probably wont be eating here again.
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Sam Fazakerley
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Saturday, October 09, 2010

Visited Il Bordello for the first time on Tuesday and wasn't disappointed. It was absolutely packed, even on a Tuesday. The menu is great - absolutely spoiled for choice and the food was excellent. Garlic king prawns for main were fantastic. Great restaurant, we're very lucky that it's on our doorstep!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, October 01, 2010

Wonderful restaurant! Very friendly atmosphere, bright service, super food! I found my place for special occasions and just for good lunch/dinner. It is always better to book in advance. Really love their ravioli and pasta.
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Konstantin
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, May 24, 2010

I used to eat here a lot when I lived just around the corner, so after meeting up with a friend for a couple of pints at the great Captain Kidd pub across the road I was really up for some pasta and a good bottle of red.

Service was as always very friendly if a little pushy, they do like to get you in and get you out. We started with some garlic mushrooms to share along with some bread to mop up all the lovely garlicky butter. To follow the 4 seasons pizza was top notch, thin and crispy but loaded with toppings. I went for a classic carbonara which was very tasty but had far to much cream in it and was just to rich to finish.

The wine list is short but well priced and we choose a fantastic bottle of Barolo at just over £30, a bargain.

In short a great local restaurant to have, with good service and a huge menu to choose from.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Highly recommended, food out of this world all down to the wonderful chefs.

wines there is such a choice to choose from that every time we go for a meal with have to try something different and alas we have yet to find a wine we were not satisfied with. As for the waiter they are so pleasant and just can't do enough to meet your needs.

We go at least 2-3 times a month for a meal with friends and every one of them said they would definately go there again.

The menu has so much to offer if there is nothing there to satisfiy you, then you have the special board to choose from.

You may well be sitting next to someone famous from t.v or sport as has happened to us in the past.

Once again well done IL BORDELLO
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STAN PADMORE
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Where to begin? I'd heard good things about Il Bordello. Granted that was about 10 years ago when I used to actually eat there. I was excited about going back. Take that excitement, double it, triple it, turn it into disappointment and you still won't be close to where I am right now.

Starters where OK. The rocket was over oiled and a bit tasteless. The caprese was well presented (it's a sad day when you can't drop a few slices of tomato and cheese on a plate efficiently) but the mozzarella was bland.

I could have lived with bland but the Spaghetti Vongole I ordered for my main was served as if the last thing the clams did in their sorry life was get dredged through the sand before being rinsed through the flotsam and jetsam of the Thames. To say my food was gritty would be an understatement.

The restaurant is obviously busy and the waiter was nice enough but run off his feet. He didn't make any effort to compensate us and even forgot to take the meal off the bill until we pointed it out. That’s shabby to say the least.

Oh, and the air-conditioning is non existent but I don't know if they do this on purpose because they want to get you out in time for the next sitting.

I won't be going back. Good luck if you go, you're crazy
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Hamid
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Friday, November 20, 2009

My Husband took me to Il Bordello for the first time when I moved to London from states. I'm a New Yorker with an Italian background and like to think I have great taste in Itlian food as I have eaten it my whole life. WE LOVE IL BORDELLO. The food, the portions (they're huge!), the atmosphere, the wait staff. People of all walks of life come to dine in this unique eatery. Plus, the food comes well prepared, walwyas piping hot and in a timely manner. I recommend this restaurant to anyone in London who is looking for an authentic Italian experience.
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Beth
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Nice large portions made up for the (frozen?) octopus (I prefer chewy, fresh grilled octopus) but was very tasty. The tiramisu was quite yummy and well-priced but JUST a little too big. The wine selections were very nice.

Noise level was high, so great buzz but sometimes difficult to converse. Plenty of space at the table and the waiters were efficient and had excellent senses of humour.

Overall, good neighbourhood restaurant. Travelled 45 minutes by Tube and walking to get there from the West End and enjoyed it overall. I probably won't go again within the next 6 months unless visiting the Wapping area but if you are in the East End, worth finding.
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ParisMike
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

My husband and I have lived above the restaurant 4 years now and so we are like family to them. There isn't an evening when that restaurant isn't booked out. Sometimes we laugh as we walk by at the contrast between the overflowing of people at Il' bordello and the surprising emptiness of other nearby restaurants. The Italian food is 2nd to none, we used to have starters in the beginning but there is no way to finish your main course if you do that, so if you must, as they are inviting, do go hungry. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, even low, for such quality and such huge portions. Everything is good there, you can't go wrong so what ever you'd like to try, Go for it! (You'd swear I work for/with them, I don't)
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Wendy, Martin and Jaela
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 26, 2009

I went to this to the restaurant the day it opened and have been going back ever since , it really is a fantastic place to eat the food the service and the atmosphere is the best !!!

I used to live in Wapping and now live in Sevenoaks but still go every Sunday without fail , it is well worth the trip for some PROPER ITALIAN FOOD !!!
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Spencer Pettman
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 29, 2009