Villa Bianca

This was the second time I have gone to this restaurant and I have to say what a terrible disappointment. The first time was ok but after this occasion I'll never be going back.

It's always busy but maybe it trades on a reputation from 20 years ago.

The service to start with was slow. It took over 10 minutes to give us our menus. But the service is really the best part of this place. It's the food you have to watch out for.

Now, we all know you can have a bad meal but each course served was below average and way below comparably priced restaurants. The starter Calamari was tough, like old boots. Then the main course came. The Veal escalope was dry and unappetising. The waiter even said at the end it looked a little dry. Then why serve it??

The mixed meats were served with the lamb raw on the bone. I could understand this mistake if the food was asked to be rare but it was supposed to be medium rare. Having sent it back the side orders got cold and my wife had to eat her meal without me.

I ordered a bloody mary which was more watery than my bottled water and it cost £9.00. I'd ordered one the week earlier for the roughly same price and its was 100 times better. I've learned my lesson over Villa Bianca.

Overall, the food is old fashioned, home cooked food. Distinctly average/below average and lacking any real class or polish. In contrast to the glowing reviews elsewhere on this site, I rate this restaurant below average.

Don't waste your time here for Italian.
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M Smith
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

An absolute gem that never seems to let its standards drop. Pleasant staff and well-above-average Italian food. The sort of place where, even if you experience a glitch or two (and it’s happened once in about ten visits) it doesn’t seem to matter because you’re well looked-after. You’re a valued customer not simply a Hampsteadian wallet on legs. Thanks to the fabulous manager, a well-known and well-liked local character, this place runs like a finely-tuned machine. Last visit I had grouper carpaccio (a special) followed by a traditional veal milanese. Excellent.
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NGJ
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 07, 2007

I've been going to Villa Bianca for a number of years and the experience has always been fantastic. If your not a wine expert I reccommend trusting the waiters advice, they don't push the most expensive on you and the reccomendations are excellent.
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Luke
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 21, 2007

Love it, love it, love it. Went there for m 18th birthday. Took my family there when I got my first paycheck...and look forward to celebrating many more special occasions here.Love it!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 20, 2007

Two of us ate at 7.30 on a Friday. The service was perfect and the food excellent. As we sat upstairs we had the benefit of (good) moody live piano playing with requests. A faultless and very enjoyable experience.
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Gerald Emmans
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 02, 2007

Went there for S. Valentine and had a lovely wholesome simple meal. No surprises but what one would expect from a real Italian restaurant. Service could improve but it's overall okay.
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Marco
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, February 15, 2007

i have been a couple of times there but recenly the food is really disgusting the pasta was over cooked my friend had a meat wich is over cooked i will never go back there again .
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paul werman
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 09, 2007

Fantastic food but VERY RUSHED SERVICE. Within seconds of receving the menu, we were asked to order our starters and mains. When it was time for dessert, yet again, we hadn't even had a few seconds to open the menu and were asked to place our order. However, once we explained that they were too quick, we were given more time. The food however, lives up to its reputation. There's nothing worse than when an expensive restaurant fails to deliver. I'm pleased to say, the food was really something special. Please note that they advertise live piano music but this is only upstairs - unfortunately our table had been reserved downstairs and we were quite disppointed as the live music was one of the reasons we booked this restaurant. It would be helpful if they told you this when taking the reservation.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 30, 2006

Excellent restaurant - we love it

The food is delicious, service great...
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Suzie Alsabban
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 16, 2006

Having had the restaurant recommended to me, I finally made it with a few old friends.

The food was very good indeed, as was the service, faultless infact. The wine list was excellent though slightly pricey (what else would you expect from any good restaurant in London).

The atmosphere was very good and along with the great food and wine added to what was a very enjoyable evening.

I look forward to my next visit and highly recommend Villa Bianca for any occasion.
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Gary Hinde, Norwich
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, October 02, 2006