Alloro
our review
In the heart of Mayfair, but with plenty of soul, Alloro manages to combine a friendly atmosphere with the sort of quality Italian cooking the area expects. That it can do both at lunchtime for such a reasonable price is remarkable, but it explains why it’s full of diners delivering the noise level obligatory in any decent Italian diner. If you want muted conversations, a reverential hush and a heart attack whenever anyone drops a fork, then Italian restaurants are not the place to find them.
Not great places for those watching their weight either. Alloro’s fixed price lunch menu covers the antipasti, the pasta and the main by which point the average punter is thinking about a little lie down for the afternoon and, in this area, the average customer probably has the sort of job where that isn’t going to be a problem. To the right of the door is a tidy little bar, to the left the restaurant flows backward with little corners and alcoves that combine to make it seem cosy and yet larger than it really is.
We were eying up next-door’s starter and trying to find it on the compact menu, when the waiter told us the specials. This dish of red mullet on apples was one of them and that and the Carpaccio of suckling pig were definite choices. Neither disappointed. The mullet poached and not grilled/pan-fried had a moist yet dense centre and the apple slices’ tart freshness made a fine combo. Suckling pig is normally a dish you tear into, devouring hunks of meat and breaking teeth on the oh so lovely crackling. So to serve it Carpaccio with a delicate mixed leaf salad was a bold move and yet it worked well; my mate who normally likes his meat mediaeval approved the dish instantly and polished it off almost as quickly.
Homemade papardelle with duck ragu and beans was a stonker of a dish, rich in flavour and oil. Nothing left on the plate but the enamel, while taglierini with sautéed calamari, sweet chilli, sun dried tomato and rocket salad was equally full on flavour but considerably lighter on the stomach. I never did taste the sweet chilli though. Personally I’d have put some flakes of dried chilli in, the diavolos that hang in most Italian home kitchens.
Mains of perfectly roasted (i.e. pretty damn rare) pigeon with gratin potatoes, artichokes and mushrooms was perhaps a dish too far after the heavy duck ragu, but it still got eaten up and was pronounced excellent. My safer bet was a lamb shoulder that had been turned to confit and then wrapped in a pastry case. This was an excellent idea and it lacked only a bit of salt to bring out more of the intense flavour. The accompanying chickpea puree was a nice touch and the dish was very elegantly plated.
And so to desserts. The fifteen-minute (as advertised) wait for the chocolate fondant and ice cream gave us time to breathe and that and the flourless orange cake were both simple enjoyable dishes to end on. Half bottles of well-chosen wine made it a memorable lunch. One of the best in the area and at a great price.
N.H. - August 2007
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
Ate here on Saturday night, quite quiet but possibly because the rugby world cup final was on ! The food was superb and the service friendly and very professional. Look forward to visiting again, the only slight downside is the wine list isn't cheap.
Comment on this reader review
_Dave_ - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
nice to not to be rushed for a 7:30pm seating. service was very friendly and menu had a good variety of dishes. the atmsophere felt a little like I was on a business dinner with a good friend, but I would return.
Comment on this reader review
NYCMel - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Food was great, service was good except for the lady that greeted us on our arrival.
A really nicely laid out resturant.
Really had a good evening in this resturant, they made us feel valued customers.
I will be returning.
The Special main course, Rabbit, was the highlight.
Thank you all at Alloro.
Comment on this reader review
DavidREvans - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 03, 2007
I had heard good things about this restaurant, which is a shame as i never got the chance to try the food. I booked a table for a business lunch with 2 clients and on arrival i was told that they didn't recognise my reservation. When i challenged the maître d' i was told that they had called that morning to confirm the reservation and i had cancelled, which was clearly a work of fiction. They were less than apologetic about their error, made little effort to try an accomodate myself and my guests elsewhere and acted quite put out that i was suggesting it was their mistake.
Finally i was told if i could wait 15 minutes they would see what they could do, a drink at the bar might have been a nice gesture at this point ! Rather than causing a scene i decided to take my guests elsewhere rather than hanging around, feeling about as welcome as a fart in an elevator. On leaving another customer mentioned that a similar incident had happened to them previously, which begs the question, why were they going back, maybe the food is ok!
Shame
Comment on this reader review
Mike
Overall rating 
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, August 02, 2007
To give you perspective on my expectation, I am from America, but have lived in Europe for a long time. I love the attentiveness of American service (which can sometimes be TOO personal) and the inpersonality of European service (which is USUALLY completely inattentive).
Saying that, Alloro's service was the best I have ever had. Period. And I eat out alot, everywhere. If you looked and needed something, they were there. But you rarely needed to do that, because every need was anticipated. The style of dining (there were 8 of us, for dinner) was a no-hurry style, to be expected in any 4-star Italian restaurant. The food was exceptionally creative (had the roast suckling pig carpaccio and wanted to cry it was so good). The pea soup with scallops was an eccentric but glorious combo. Ossobucco was rich and lovely.
But the best of all was the wine service; the sommelier/waiter could not have been more useful and knowledgeable about Italian wine. He made excellent and charming recommedations that paired well with each course. He also listened to what we said we liked and made his recs based on that as well.
Cannot say enough about Alloro. This is a real people place, where you feel the chef and the service staff (even the lovely lady at the front door) wanted to take care of you and cared. That, believe me, is worth the price (which by the way, with everything -- cocktails, wine and four courses, plus coffee -- was under £100 per person... not bad at all!) in a city like London where you can often find yourself paying alot for very little service and so-so food.
Comment on this reader review
bossygirl - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 05, 2007
I visited the restaurant mid-June. Was very inpressed with the attentive service, the fabulous food, and the wine list, which the waiter was able to give extensive knowledge on. Would without a doubt go back; the Alloro has the perfect atmosphere for an intimate dinner with close friends, a business meal, or a magical first date.
Comment on this reader review
Jade
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, July 14, 2006
Had early dinner here on last Friday night, after asking in a nearby Bond St shop for a recommendation of a good local Italian. Found the fixed price menu (£36 for 3 courses) to be very good value, as the quality of the food was excellent. Had wine by the glass, which was quite good. Service was very good - very attentive and professional without being obsequious. Will definitely come here again.
Comment on this reader review
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Service exeptional!!!! But the food is not what I was Expecting. First, spaghetti with vongole, sausages does not combine with clams, the meat was quite salty, which means they might try to let you buy another bottle of wine (which is very very expensive). I am Italian; maybe I am very snobby with the Italian cousine because I know it quite well. I just found quite ridicules the price of the wine list. There was a kind of Chianti which you could buy in Sainsbury for 4.99 and it was 85 (ridicules). I am a concierge and honestly for the prices does not satisfy my requirements
Comment on this reader review
Massimo
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
