Il Vicolo

Well, what can I say. In point form here we go:

* Upon arrival the place is packed, a good sign.... You get seated at your table and there is a small container with olives, a small dish with olive oil and vinegar, and 4 very small, thinly cut slices of bread. Excellent my wife and I thought, complementary nibbles to begin with. WRONG.... Cost you £3.20 even though you didn't ask for it, and even if you don't eat it, it is listed as a "cover charge" on the menu so you are going to pay for it no matter what !!

* The menu is quite decent for choice, considering the place is only open during lunch hours, during the working week. The cost though is well over the top. My wife ordered the ravioli for a main and out comes 5 small, flat parcels and that is it. At a cost of £13- and to finish it and still feel rather hungry, not good.

* I order a crumbed veal that was of a decent size so no complaints about that, although the "vegetable of the day" were an absolute disgrace. I received a "side dish"( which was in fact a tea cup saucer), with small new potatoes cut in half, 8 string beans and 4 small slices of zuchini and they want £3.75 for it...

* To top it all off, upon completion of our meal, (and mind you the place had really cleared out quite a lot by now) it took 25 minutes to clear our plates and offer us the desert menu, to which we looked at and declined. £5 for ice cream, you must be joking.

* The creme de la creme was the 12% service charge smacked on to your bill at the end, which normally I do not mind paying, but this time, it was removed pretty quickly.

All in all, we will never go back to this place, it is really suited for the business lunch client who doesn't care what the cost is because their company is paying for it, and the owner of this restaurant obviously knows this considering the shocking prices charged, and the small small meals served !!

Go there at you own risk and be prepared to head elsewhere afterwards way to fill up properly, because the meal won't do it for you....
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Craig P - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, August 21, 2008

I found Il Vicolo (Italian for "the passage") by accident. It's hidden up Crown Passage off Pall Mall opposite an excellent pub. I've been back a dozen times. It's a super little family Italian job. The atmosphere is smashing the food great and reasonably priced. My recommendation is warm white beans to start followed by the veal escalope. Chianti washes this down beautifully.

Last month I walked two miles past every restaurant in Covent Garden to eat there. Imagine my distress to find it had had a fire. It'd opening again in September, completely refurbished. I'm looking forward to it!
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Martin Littler
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

I eat here regularly. the food is superb - authentic italian both in the kitchen and serving) - fantastic and reasonably-priced wine list with some interesting and usual wines. try the strong sicilian!
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Jonathan Burns
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 07, 2006