Metrogusto (Islington)

What a great place to eat! As a special request I asked my neice to pick an Italian restaurant in Islington close to their home. The artwork may be a bit bizarre and from the outside you could expect the food to be standard fare.

This is not the case, the service was superb especially since we had two small children in tow. Wonderful imaginative food, well prepared and served by a very knowlegeable and friendly waiter. His wine suggestions were first class.

It is now firmly on the family's list of favourite places to go - and not a pizza in sight!
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Barbara & David Duncanson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 14, 2007

I've been living in Islington for the best part of the 8 years I spent in London, as an Italian I know "a few" of the well known italian restaurants in town, and there is only a shortlist of them where I would go time and time again, MG is defintely one of them. Ambro is a great host, and the food is very eclectic in a panoply of sometime dull italian restaurants cooking. Regarding some bad comments I read, if you don't appreciate the tastes, creativity and service of Metrogusto, you are probably better off eating just pizza in some anonymous place somewhere else.
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Massimo A
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 10, 2007

When I walked in the restaurant, the first think that striked me was the waiters: funny, friendly, welcoming... a bit weird sometime, but definite characters. They give the place a really great atmosphere...

The food was absolutely gorgeous. I had the risotto with asparagus: a real pleasure, cooked with love. My friend had the seabass: large portion, tasty.

We also shared a tomate mozarella to start (portions are large) at the beginning which was absolutely stellar. Products used by the chef are definitely of first quality (it's rare in London).

Wine: They seem a bit expensive when you look quickly at the list, but when you taste them, they are so specific and sophisticated, that they are worth spending a bit more. They provide a real experience. Moreover, the waiter is a real connaisseur who wants to make you happy, not to sell you the most expensive bottle of wine. He always recommends the perfect mix with the food you order.

We did not try the dessert as we were full with only the main dish... but next time, I'll starve myself before going.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, December 06, 2007

I have been a regular at Metrogusto for almost five years, and I cannot praise the place highly enough. I am lucky enough to eat at many of the world's great restaurants, and enjoy them hugely, but there is something undeniably beguiling about coming back to MG (which is why I do so time and time again). It's a quintessential neighbourhood Italian, and it's how such places are meant to be - fabulous food, great (Italian) wine, and welcoming to the point where it is like coming home. I eat there with my wife, my children, my parents, my bother, my friends. I go for a quick bowl of pasta, or for a big meal. And I don't even live in the neighbourhood any more...

I was amazed to see a couple of such negative comments here. The food is wonderful (especially risotto and pasta, which is as good as it gets), and the wine list is a study in versatility and incredibly reasonable pricing. In point of fact, I have never chosen the wine there (despite being a keen oenophile) - I leave it always to Ambro, who matches the wine to my mood, sometimes involving extraordinary wines at high-ish, but unbelievably reasonable prices, sometimes with robust, mouth-filling, gutsy bottles that are just ludicrously cheap for what they are.

And that leads to the real reason for going back at the drop of a hat. Ambro. My wife thinks he's a star, my kids almost revere him as an uncle, he is an intelligent, articulate aesthete, and he has always looked after us with amusement, theatre and skill. He is a king. If you haven't been, go - you won't be disappointed.
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Andrew Hawkins
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 03, 2007

We have been dining at Metrogusto for the last 4 years, sometimes for the pre-theatre menu but often for birthdays or anniversaries or special occasions. This is because we are always confident that we will have a superb meal in a lovely atmosphere.

The food - especially the pasta and risotto dishes - is served to perfection and the specials are always exciting. The staff could not be more helpful and the Maitre 'd is one of the best we have ever met. His wine recommendations never fail to please!

A real gem in the heart of Islington and one of the few genuine top-notch Italian restaurants in London.
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Alexia Turner
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, December 03, 2007

As an Islington resident, have dined here several times, most recently the last weekend of Nov '07. Mystified by some of the reviews on the site. The food was excellent - well presented, an interesting menu, and high quality. The service was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Would have no hesitation in recommending as offering good quality, decent value and one of the better dining experiences in Islington.
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Tim
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 02, 2007

I've been to Metrogusto 8 or 9 times over the past two years and they never fail to please. It has a wonderful character with fabulous and unusual artwork. Unlike many London restaurants the staff know the menu and can give good recommendations for the day. They also have a good wine list however I usually leave the choice up to the waiter and am always pleased with the choice. The atmosphere is more "European" than most restaurants in London - unhurried and relaxed.
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Michael M
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 02, 2007

We had high expectations for this restaurant on our visit last weekend. They were sadly misplaced. The Service was appalingly inept and the Maitre D' obviously didn't know his own menu - it's not as if it is that long. Wines were good but very expensive and food was nothing to write home about. The space is however, very nice indeed with excellently chosen and placed artwork.

It is a great pity really as Islington SHOULD have some good restaurants but they don't seem able to get it right. I do hope this was a blip for Metrogusto but at high end restaurant prices we will not be returning. Paying central london high end prices does not seem to guarantee you a decent meal at a restaurant in N1. I guess this is why the restauarant was less than half full on a weekend evening.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Thursday, July 26, 2007

I've been to Metrogusto on a number of occasions over the years, with the most recent being a fortnight ago. I'm afraid to say that I think the standard of the food and the service is going downhill which is a great pity. The staff always seem to be in an absolute blind panic. This is because, when the restaurant is full, there are simply not enough waiting staff to provide a good service to all tables. The food now seems to be just "ok". The portions are far too large and the homemade pasta is incredibly heavy and doughy. It seems that the restaurant now operates a policy of quantity over quality which is always a mistake. And I agree that the strange mixes of ingredients are often more of a miss than a hit. It's a shame but I won't be going back.
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Lucy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Thursday, July 19, 2007

We just love this restaurant, and the owner is always helpful and charming. He is part of the lives of the residents. If you look for a standard unimaginative Italian restaurant, look elsewhere, as the food here is not intended to be conventional. Thank you so much Ambro for looking after us so well and for all your hard work to make our celebration a memorable one.
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Tuan and Ted
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 06, 2007