San Lorenzo Fuoriporta

I'm surprised at those bad reviews. Just moved to Wimbledon about 6 month ago and was really happy to find a restaurant with such a nice atmosphere. The food is always great and never had problems with service, ok on a Saturday night can be a bit full but the waiters always give their best and I think they are very sweet. Anyway, happily recommend it.
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Oliver
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

This appears to be a bit of a Marmite restaurant - you either love it or hate it. I am surprised at the poor reviews. I have eaten at San Lorenzo on numerous occassions and have always found the food to be very good, service very friendly (especially with kids) and a good atmosphere (altough the acoustics can make it a bit noisy). Maybe I am ordering food that they do particularly well or am lucky in that I get a waiter who knows what he is doing. All I can say is that I have enjoyed eating there every time..

I will agree though that the a la carte menu can be a bit pricey. the kids meal menu they do is good value
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Alex Ward
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Very poor and completely overpriced.

We went on a saturday evening, so probably its busiest night, but the service was poor and the waitress managed to get almost every order wrong.

The first course of calamari was cold and the second course of calves liver was where it really started to go downhill. At £22.50, you wouldn't expect liver which is crumbly and bitter. The replacement order of fillet steak with fries arrived as entrecote with salad dressed in thousand island dressing. My partner's fillet steak came without the ordered fries.

The evening wasn't helped by the poor acoustics in the rear room, excabated by a noisy neighbouring table and two tables of families and a baby.

The restaurant is obviously living off past glories.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, June 01, 2008

I can't explain enough how bad this restuarant is. The food was of poor quality, the staff were rude and not nearly attentive enough. The place (and staff) also looked grubby. All in all a bad experience - there are plenty of other extremely good Italian restaurants in Wimbledon and I would recommend anyone reading this that you visit them instead of this place.
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, May 12, 2008

Poor very poor.... bad food combined with careless service. Maybe on Sunday there is nice atmosphere... but on monday night is terrible. Fairly expansive. Is it legal charging cover charge??? is that like an entrance fee??

I hope an improvment ...it was so nice.
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Corrado
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Amazed to hear see so many poor reviews. We live locally and visit on a semi regular basis with groups of friends and as a couple. Whereas I will admit the service can be a little off hand engaging with the waiters bears dividends and they quickly warm to you. By way of example they fitted us in for a meal during Wimbledon fortnight without a booking when the resturant was filled to the rafters, they could easily have turned us away, but made the effort.

As for critism of the food, this surprises me. The price point is a little betwixt and between (ie not Chez Bruce but not Chez Gerrard) but is always high quality and not lacking in size. The lunch menu on a Saturday is an absolute bargin.

Anyway, keep the bad reviews coming, at least we will always be able to get in....
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, March 20, 2008

We have just moved to Wimbledon and were looking forward to a meal with friends at San Lorenzo Fuoriporta - we had last been there many years ago

We, sadly, were as disappointed as some previous reviewers. The service was casual and not very professional. And there did n't seemed to be any kind of "manager" around.

The bread served was quite cold as if just out of fridge freezer, and tasteless. We had to ask for some butter and olive oil for bread - only butter came, and this after a long wait..

None of the food was great. My goats cheese starter was just a lump of the stuff also chilly from the fridge with a few insipid vegetables.. Three of us had sea bass which was mediocre, a bit over salted amd with boring tasteless potatoes. All this is surprising as quite recently the restaurant scored high points in the Zagat Survey of London restaurants - scoring higher points for food than the Beauchamp Place San Lorenzo!

Decor is quite chic but the restaurant was also a bit draughty. I think it needs new management and /or new chef.!

The coffee was OK
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, February 03, 2008

I'm absolutely astonished to read bad reviews here. I live locally and have been to this restaurant several times, and have never had a bad experience. I wonder if some of the bad reviews actually referred to the other San Lorenzo restaurant in London (there are at least 2).

Maybe the bad reviews come from unrealistic expectations or unfair comparisons. If you compare it with Pizza Hut, you'll probably think it's very expensive. On the other hand, the food is miles better. If you compare it with Gordon Ramsey, you'll find the food disappointing. On the other hand, the prices are nowhere near as stratospheric. Personally, I think that this restaurant delivers very well for what it is: a mid-priced Italian restaurant.

The food is not the most imaginative you'll find, it's mostly fairly traditional Italian fare. But there's a reason why it's traditional, and that's because a lot of people like it. The food here is certainly very well executed, using nice fresh ingredients and very competently cooked. My favourite main course is the mixed seafood grill. It's not particularly innovative: it's just a few kinds of seafood grilled and served with fairly minimal accompaniments. But by golly it's tasty.

The one valid criticism of the food I've read on this site is of the scallops wrapped in bacon. It's true, the bacon does overpower the delicate scallops. But I've had (or at least tasted) most of the other main course items at one time or another, and that was the only one which I didn't think worked. All the others are lovely.

The wine list is good too. Almost exclusively Italian wines, which scores highly in my book. If you're feeling flush, they have some excellent ones by the top Italian winemaker Antinori. Top tip: the prosecco isn't on the main wine list (it's on a separate aperitifs list), but it's delicious and very reasonably priced.

I can't understand why anyone would bitch about the service. I've never had any problems. The waiting staff I've had have been perfectly helpful and easy to find. Maybe the bad reviews were written by people who are habitually rude to waiters. I haven't tried that, but maybe they don't give you such good service if you're rude to them. Quite right too.

All in all, an excellent choice if you're looking for good quality Italian food on a mid-price budget.
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Adam
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 18, 2008

I love this restaurant! Having moved to Wimbledon 4 months ago I have had 2 family Sunday lunches for 8+ people and a Saturday night dinner. Every time I have been the food has been amazing (my dad had the best sea bass of his life last Saturday night!). The staff are really friendly, without being in your face. The wine list is good, the menu has great variety and the price is reasonable. On both occassions for Sunday lunch, despite closing at 3pm, the waiter kindly allowed us to sit over our coffees and Amarretos for hours after.

The atmosphere is lovely and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. (Also, as an aside, Sunday lunch is great for kids!).
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Susie K - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 15, 2007

When we first step in the main restaurant we were very pleased about the atmosphere. Me and my wife we were expecting to have a romantic dinner, with friendly service. Nothing like. The waiter was speaking a kind of Spanglish. and careless. Service slow and unfriendly, no smile or eye contact.Is there a manager in charge? We more than half of our fish on the plate. Nobody asked us if we were happy. Truly ridiculous when I had to pay the bill.....what is "cover charge". My bill was 108£ for a dinner for two. I have 2 advise.

One for the owner: Rent out that place and go to work.

One for the guest : rather go to pizza express, at least there you get what you expect without paying stupid cover charge.

Thanks a lot
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dado
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, September 18, 2007