Artigiano

I wouldn't normally write a review but I was astonished by the negative comments of an earlier reviewer and I am going there for lunch tomorrow.

This is a great neighbourhood restaurant . The food is always beautifully presented. The portions are healthily non nouveau cuisine but also not overwhelming. Good simple food beautifully cooked, isn't that what all the experts tell us.

Two appetisers would be enough for the calorie conscious. And the opening basket of flatbreads and focaccia alone would feed Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss for a month.

The pasta choices are great and in the main section the whole sea bream cooked in salt is fantastic.

The maitre d is a delight and the wine list is good.

A couple of years ago the service was patchy. Sometimes brilliant , sometimes non-existent , but the food always remained good.
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Chris Stocking
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 10, 2011

This was one of the worst meals I and my partner have ever had.

The starter of Parmesan basket with poached egg and asparagus was quite promising. It all went wrong with the mains, which at an average of £15 are certainly up with 1 star Michelin prices.

My partner ordered the veal and I the calves liver. Hers arrived swimming in an insipid gravy and looked very pallid. My liver, something not difficult to cook was certainly not medium and presentation wise was more akin to a damp mouldy shoe leather and about as tasty too. The so called thick cut chips tasted to all intent and purposes as if they were made by messers McCain. The rather hapless waiter had to be reminded to bring our rocket salad, which again was lack lustre.

Needless to say we didn't have a dessert on account of us not wishing to lose anymore money, since our bill was already around £70 for one starter, two mains and a bottle of wine ! Neither of us are adverse to spending money but if we both want value and more importantly good food. That is after all why we all go out to dine and a restaurants raison d'etre.

This is a real shame as the restaurant is in a lovely location and is well presented. Given it's location and the potential local clientele it fails to deliver on it's most key level. Sadly this really is the definitive style over substance and given the current climate will not succeed.

I suppose the we should have realised how bad it was when the Maitre 'd said " Nobody books, everyone just turn up". Well maybe nobody books because having dined there they never return. Avoid
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- View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Friday, June 25, 2010

I love Artigiano! Well, it has everything a restaurant should offer.

The food it serves up is good quality is genuinely Italian but it doesn't cost a fortune. The service is good and decor stylish.

I have had a few meals here and have always highly enjoyed each meal.

Quite simply, this is a brilliant restaurant which punches above it's wait in it's price bracket. Well worth a visit.
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Simon Shaer - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 23, 2009

The evening at Artigiano was a pleasant experience. We celebrated our son's 30th birthday and we couldn't have chosen a better place. The service was excellent and the staff very nice and observant. The food was superb. We will really recommend this restaurant to our Swedish friends.
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Marianne & Lars Bundsen, Stockholm, Sweden
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I go to Artigiano every other weekend when I am in London because we live in the area. We have therefore had everything on the menu and all of it is excellent. If I had to select one starter, my absolute favourite is the "cestino de parmigiano"; only issue is you get to crave it after a few tries. The pasta and risottos are delicious as well; I have tried them my friends and husband, because I generally order fish or meat. My main of choice would be the "agnello" (lamb). The cuisine is simple and delicate and the selection of wines is quite wide within the Italian range.

The service is fantastic and really friendly, particularly Luigi, the Maitre D. Everybody we bring there loves it.
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Sunny
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 26, 2009