Locanda Locatelli

I was taken here by my girlfriend for a belated celebratory dinner and found it to be charming but ultimately I thought that it lacked a wow factor.

The atmosphere is great - a mixture of modern chic, comfy chairs and dimmed lighting. The service was good and informative but a little distracted at times; a few too many personnel who had to keep scurrying off to find their colleague who could take the food order etc. The food itself was good but not mind blowing and that is where I think it falls short of a number of other London restaurants (I am thinking in particular of Latium which produces far better 'smart' pasta dishes). A simple artichoke, parmesan and shallot vinegrette salad is something which anyone could knock up at a fraction of what they charge but it was done well and the ingredients were of a good quality. The tagliatelli with lamb ragu was very good and went really well with a delicious bottle of 2004 Negroamaro Maime from Tormaresca which was £38 a bottle and was recommended by the sommelier. I do not confess to knowing much about Italian wines, so if you are like me I would suggest you put yourself in the hands of the sommelier or opt for the wine we had as it was very good.

All in all, a rather nice, comfortable and pleasant place to go for dinner but unless you specifically want to go there to celeb spot, I cannot see why one would choose it over a number of other London restaurants.
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Rick Brown
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, May 16, 2008

This is the second time we have visited Locanda Locatelli and I have to say we were not disapointed.

It was our anniversary and had previously visited Locatelli's on our honeymoon, although being quite tipsy at the time it was a bit of a blur. This time we started the evening with staight heads and eyes and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it.

To start we had the carpaccio of beef and the chargrilled squid with chilli, both of which were excellent and generous without being overwhelming.

Next we had Tagliatelle with kid lamb ragu and Linguine with Lobster with were again excellent and again good portions.

Finally we had Caramelised Bannanas with Honey Yogurt Ice Cream, which was fab especially as I don't eat cream so yogurt ice cream was great. my partner had Lemon Souffle with lemon sorbet and bitter chocolate biscuit, the Sorbet and biscuit base was lovely but unfortunately the Souffle was a bit undercooked although it did taste nice.

Because we had very differrent courses we asked the sommelier to provide wines by the glass for each course, he provided some fantastic.wines varying from £3.50 a glass to £10 a glass, a couple of which weren't normally sold by the glass.

all in all the entire evening was fantastic, the atmostphere, the service and quality of food and wines made for a magical evening.

Other reviews saying that this was over priced and poor service are absurd, I have eaten in many restaurants including 3 star michelin and can safely say that this is a great restaurant.
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Matt B
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

I was really looking forward to going to Locanda Locatelli. It is not an easy place to book especially for a Saturday night. I was not disappointed. Service staff were wonderful. Everyone was very friendly and attentive from the moment we were greeted at at the door. It was completely different than some of the reviews I've read about this place. Loved the decor. Very intimate. Ordered their special cocktail...grape martini. It was delicious made with fresh grapes. The food was lovely and the pasta dishes were done to perfection...al dente unlike most places in UK where you find pasta generally too well cooked. I started with beef carpaccio which was lovely and a generous portion. My partner had a fish soup which was filled with moist and tender chucks of fishes. I had linguini with langoustine. It was a good portion with a good quantity of langoustine tails. My partner had the chicken which moist and delicious. Our guest had spaghetti with sardine which was also delicious. For dessert we ordered green tea mousse which was light and had the delicate taste of green tea just perfect. The wine list is extensive and had a good range of different priced wine. The service and the food was really good. The restaurant do have a 2 hour table policy and at times, I do feel a bit rushed but otherwise, it was a lovely meal.
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TL
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 21, 2008

Was really looking forward to this meal as Georgio's book (Made in Italy) is an inspiration to me; have cooked many recipies from it.

Unfortunately, it was a big dsiappointment and I left feeling ripped-off to be honest. Big prices like this (we ended up getting away for £240 for two!) demand an experience to match. Also, uncomplicated food like this has to be perfectly executed. It wasn't.

We started with a couple of pasta courses. These were pretty good, but lacked the wow factor that we have experienced at other Michelin-starred places.

My partner went on to have a beef dish. Unfortunately they had left a piece of cooking string in it. Unforgiveable! Her comment on the dish was "rustic innit". Well, we knew it was going to be simple stuff, but you expect a wow factor somewhere when paying this much (around £30 for main courses). If it really is just simple rustic stuff, well we can get that cheaper elsewhere.

Went on to dessert. My partner had a chocolate and ice-cream number which was good. I had a trifle with stratiachella ice cream which was average.

They threw in some nibbles. The first was an Amarretti biscuit. I was looking forward especially to this as I have made these at home to Georgio's recipe from the Made In Italy book. Another disappointment! The almond flavour was so strong my partner could not eat hers. They tasted like someone had been pouring in almond essence. The ones we made at home ourselves were better! Maybe I should ask for a job at the Locanda! I could show them a thing or two!

The next dessert was a chocolate truffle. As someone who makes a lot of chocolate truffles at home, I was also looking forward to this! I imagine you have guessed what i am going to say already. In fact it was worse; it was frankly horrible. It tasted really bitter, and the granache (the bit in the middle of a truffle) had too much licor in it (whatever they had used) and so was still wet; the texture was all wrong.

There was a third little sweet which I can't be bothered to describe. Nuff said.

On the service front, I agree with so many other people's comments that it wasn't really up to the standard I would expect of a restaurant with such aspirations.

The wine was excellent.

There were celebs there, but I think I will have to get onto Walliams's agent to find out his movements so I can go somewhere else; he seems to be following us around.

I've never written a restaurant review before, but couldn't stop myself this time!
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Monday, March 17, 2008

I never gone to a restaurant where virtually everything on the menu seemed so unappealing. There was only 1 pasta that seems edible. When the waiter took our order, all 4 of us wanted the same pasta. To be different, I ordered a lasagne with "wind-dried" cod with capers. I like seafood so I figured I had to keep an open mind and not be turned away by the description. What a disappointment. It was a square of lagagne noodles with a puree of fish poured over the top. It was like a dish of catfood.

There wasn't one member of our party that was impressed with either the antipasto or the entree.

The service is excellent and the ambiance is enjoyable. It is the food that disappoints. Having just returned from Rome, I enjoyed much better meals at 1/4 of the price.

Locanda Locatelli has clearly gotten a little too impressed with itself and needs to return to the roots that gave it it's name.

Stay away at all costs!!!
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Jed Evans
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Saturday, March 15, 2008

I took a client for lunch yesterday and had been looking forward to trying the food for some time. I wasn't disappointed. Couldn't fault the service, the food was outstanding (do try the custard with tomatoe and raspberry coulis for dessert - sounds strange but was totally heavenly).

Arrived at 12:30 and left at 4:40pm. No rush, relaxed, fabulous wine and incredible food. If you want to try excellent Italian then this is the place to go.

Couldn't fault the whole experience.
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DB
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, February 22, 2008

I have been looking forward to going to Locanda Locatelli for a very long time. I recently managed it, my colleague and I took a couple of clients for lunch. I have read loads of reviews and with a 6* rating in the Good Food Guide and held up as the finest Italian food in the Capital I had very high hopes.

Not for long. The service was fine if sometimes incomprehensible, but the food was just wholeheartedly average. With a lunch bill for 4 reaching £300 I expect a little bit better than mediocre, especially when two of us just had pasta as a main course.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 28, 2008

if I've to be honest, i don't really like writing reviews, but in this case I'll make an exception because Locanda Locatelli was a great food experience! not forgetting all the people around the restaurant from the moment we walked in until we left!! Bravo bravo bravo!!!!
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Jane
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 09, 2008

I've been at Locanda for the first time in December after reading the famous book which was described by one the girls at the reception as "the bible of the food". it's been hard to get a table, but now i understand the reason of that and of most of the rules they have like the returning time if you go early or the bookings taken one month in advance....it's really worth all of these things! me and my fiance' had a warm welcoming, a fantastic blueberry martini at the bar and once we were at the table one the managers (there are a few!) helped us choosing our dishes because i have some allergies. no doubt: the evening was really busy with all the people leaving and coming but the waiter was able to take care of us without giving the feeling that we had to leave. food was great, a real piece of Italy in the heart of London. the bill was what we were expeting: how can you be surprised when the prices are on the menu? well done Giorgio Locatelli and all of your staff.
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kate
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 07, 2008

I don't even know just where to begin my song of praise for Locanda Locatelli.

As it was the birthday of my boyfriend we were looking for an evening to be remembered and we were not let down.

From the moment we walked through the door we were well looked after by the ever so attentive staff.

I admit to be quite nosey when it comes to the ingredients of a dish and in most places the staff will have to check with the kitchen, but at Locanda Locatelli everybody knew excatly what was going on....and as for the wine, once again we were very impressed and all our enquiries were professionally answered.

I won't claime to be a food buff, however I have travelled all over the world and eaten in enough restaurants to know when I have a quality meal.

At Locanda Locatelli it's good, honest and un-pretentious food with respect for the produce.

I most certainly will be spreading the word once I'm back home in Copenhagen.
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M.B. Devantier
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 07, 2008