Orso

I am so suprised by some of the negative views expressed about Orso. I have been going there for years and have ALWAYS had great food and intelligent service. I also note that for someone to post a restaurant review containing the words 'drawned' and 'rivioli' can only serve to highlight the ineptitude of the author not the restaurant. As for the 'very poor quality olive oil' ,I frequently buy this extra virgin, cold pressed, new season oil to use at home. Delicious!
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Ellis Kingram
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 03, 2006

We had dinner on Nov. 25. Worst restaurant experience in London. (Racine, Rules, l’Escargot were among the good ones). We chose the place based on the recommendation in Fodor’s.

Good first impression as despite not having a reservation we were given a nice table. The wine list was rather “thin” and (understandably) Italian biased. As the appetizers came in, there was an oily, very displeasing smell from my wife’s Grilled Sardines. She ate some and I tasted them too – wish I never did. My Goat Cheese appetizer was decent albeit uninspired. For mains we had Roasted Grouse which was less than average. When finished, although one of the appetizers was barely touched and there was a lot left from the main courses it did not cause any reaction from the pleasant but inexperienced waitress, nor were there any requests for feedback during the meal. Obviously she had no specific instructions from the kitchen to watch for any signs of trouble. After the meal my wife felt nauseated and later that night, was violently sick.

Those sardines should have never left the kitchen. If I could smell them from across the table, surely the chef should have been able to do it too. Being that, incidentally, that happens to be his job.

We dine out a lot and have a good understanding of fine food and service – subjective as that may be.
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Michael DeOlt
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Saturday, October 28, 2006

A landmark of London restaurant, classic food, friendly service. Came here with two six year old kids - all very happy after the meal!
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gg - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 22, 2006

I visit Orso every year with quite a few friends,all retirees from an old family firm.We look forward to our visit every time,and have not been let down yet.The welcome is always there,the food and wine are excellent,the prices are sensibly acceptable by London standards,and we do not wish to looke for anywhere else.Our next visit is on Thirsday evening next week.
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Iabn Hardman
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 01, 2006

I have visited Orso on several occasions both business and pleasure. I have always found the staff, pleasant and unobtrussive. The food is excellent, an all round pleasant experience !
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Patrick Childs
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, September 07, 2006

Travelled over 200 miles to visit this restaurant for lunch yesterday - wish we hadn't. The food was very poor value. The presentation was boring. Even the bread was boring and hadn't even been sliced through properly. Sardines and sole were both similar to Birds Eye breadcrumbed fish, hard, overcooked and tasteless. One main course had to be returned as it was cold and undercooked, the plates were chipped, the service was casual, and fairly curt, the wine very expensive and unexceptional and the whole meal was excessively over-priced (£154 for three - including wine and tip). The puds were OK and the loos too! It was a real disappointment and a special birthday treat gone sour.
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Gill Mitchell
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 23, 2006

My husband and I are regulars to Orso because we have not come across a better Italian restaurant in London. The food is fantastic, the menu changes regularly to accommodate only the best ingredients available at the time. I am astonished to read a couple of the reviews below, we have never had a bad experience there and our standards are extremely high.
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Rebecca Richie
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 17, 2006

Went to Orso recently after reading reviews on it. I must say the food was quite average for the London prices being paid. The service seemed unintrested (we were a large group) and at the end they decided to add £40 to the bill for no reason (later taken off). Atmosphere was stale.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Thursday, July 13, 2006

Popped into orso around two weeks ago to try out their sunday daytime menu. They had a great special on , three courses with a free apperatif for 18.50. Which we thought was excellent value. The food was lovely and homely and really filled you up.. the restaurant was half empty which was a pity cause i'd say the atmosphere is great when its full. All around good service, great drinks and wine and brill food. I'd definitely go again, no doubt!!
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Colette
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 02, 2006

After reading the review I decided to give it a try, and I have to say that this is the worst Italian restaurant I have ever been, period, not just in London. This should be called "American Italian" restaurant. The bread was served with olive oil, which, by the way, was of very poor quality. The pasta was drawned in tomato sauce, and the rivioli tasted like microwaved airplane food. The salad was plain and only drizzled with (again very poor) olive oil. The service was absent minded and slow. Overall, I was shocked that this kind of place exists in London, where there're quite a few decent Italian restaurants and populated with many Italians who know what good Italian food means.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, January 25, 2006