Little Italy

I went to Little Italy with a friend for dinner tonight. I have never seen anything like it. Firstly because we had made no resevation we got shunted up stairs where waiters were hanging around, and bringing chairs up and stacking them near the poorly situated table we'd been given. Then for £11 my starter consisted of an overly salted glass with a bit of rocket and about 12 north atlantic prawns... and something i think was supposed to be marie rose sauce hidden in the bottom. Whilst being served this laughable attempt at a starter my friend was ask if he would like a drink, the first time since sitting down. I turned to give my drinks order as the waitress walked off. My friend got his drink, i now was a little annoyed. I called over the same waitress and asked for a drink, she looked at me like i'd just vomited in her shoes... left and come back with a plate of butter which she practicaly threw on the table.

Now to the main course. I had oven baked sea bass with gratinated fennel. For £23 this was day light robbery. My friend had char-grilled squid which tasted like burnt chicken skin and the most ludicrus pile of gritty, over spiced spinach and for that privelege he paid £18.50. At this point i didn't want to continue this experience so i asked for the bill. The total bill was £81 for dire food and shocking service. I also noticed theres a charge of £1.50 just to sit down. I put the money in the bill sleeve provided... the waitress had the audacity to count it in front of me. My overall feeling about Little Italy is its over-priced, crass, and an absolute dive i will never return to. It ruined a good day and i would have rather eaten out of the bins outside...!
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Stuart Green
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Never before have I seen such a tawdry soho location used for financial benefit so garrulously. Fly to Rome and get some proper Italian food. It'll be cheaper and you won't be surrounded by bankers incongruously sipping champagne in a room that looks like it should be a pizza express (no offense to pizza express). £25 for a plate of gnocchi?
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Saturday, June 28, 2008

I just wanted to say that my husband, son and I had the best time in Little Italy on Friday night. We had been to see a show and went for supper. I just don't know how the food is always so good! Whatever you have its beautifully cooked and presented. I had the belly of pork (best I have ever tasted!) and my husband had baked sea bream, excellent. Service is just about wonderful. Lovely friendly, smiling staff and nothing is too much trouble. The restaurant has recently been extended and is now quite a lot bigger and, if I had any complaint at all, I think it has lost a little of its atmosphere. However, it is still one of my favourite places for wonderful food in London. Its not cheap but why would it be, its excellent! Thank you to Lou and Toni.
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Patsy Austin
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I had a business lunch in Little Italy yesterday. I have dined here a couple of times before and enjoyed the quality of food and pleasant atmosphere. Now, I don't know if the chef is new, but yesterday I was served the most extrodinary meal. The starter special was pear and ham, ok so far, but was presented with an electric blue sauce, that tasted like, well, tooth paste. It was inedible and sent back.

The main course special arrived which looked and tasted like luncheon meat with a garlic dip and a few capers thrown in. At least this was edible. I left hungry and more than a little confused as to why the staff seemed surprised when I sent the starter back. They charged me for it and made no apology..
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Mr Perkins
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, May 15, 2008

I enjoyed an excellent business lunch with two colleagues at Little Italy in Frith Street.

Professional and friendly service and very well cooked food from the set menu. The portions were not large but were well put together. I enjoyed the Palma Ham with poached pear followed by Sea Bass with salad. Simple food but served well. The house Chardonnay was also pleasant enough My only criticism would be the pairing of a broccoli soup of the day and a broccoli pasta of the day - which was somewhat unimaginative and the somewhat glitzy hotel lobby decor.

Overall though recommended.
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bonviveur - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, March 06, 2008

We visited this restaurant last night for a pre-theatre diner, My wife and I both had a spaghetti ragu which was unbelievable, the tastes were superb. I had not been to Little Italy for some time, but was not dissapointed Although the wine was a little overpriced at £8.50 for a 175ml glass, this did not spoil things. Cannot wait to go back on a Saturday night.
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Harvey Kaye
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

well after reading these comments, on such a great and pretty place! im dissapointed in these bad comments... the venue is a "slick&trendy" place.. wiht handsome staff and great service! the food was very good and was refreshing.... the staff was ever so helpful and willing to please... i tipped enormously, and was money well spent id say.... the staff of barman was handsome and the owner looked like Elvis presley.. smart and handsome, and kind... this pace is a place im sure to go every weekend and the music was incredible .... classics,(neil diamond-frank sinatra-dean martin the list is endless! if you want a good night out then visit little italy soho
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mario travirso
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, January 12, 2008

Little Italy has always been good fun over the years,but revisiting it after a long absence I was disappointed to see the place had been refurbished to look like a hotel lobby, complete with DJ and particularily heavy looking,unpleasant, bouncers. Anyway,my friend and I decided to stay for a drink and thought we'd start the evening with a Sea Breeze.I was presented with what I can only presume was the non alcoholic version as they were two of the weakest,ice laden,most insipid Sea Breezes we had ever tasted, followed swiftly by a bill for £24....for TWO drinks!!. The bar staff were dismissive and grumpy when I mentioned this and quite frankly the place has gone from being a genuinely fun,fairly priced, Italian gem, to an overpriced,slick,soulless,rip off,clip joint.They should hang their heads in shame.Don't go unless you have money to burn...and even then,there are better places to burn it!
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Friday, January 04, 2008

Before I begin - a caveat -I realise that attending a busy restaurant as part of a group on a Friday night just before Christmas means that you don't always get the quality you expect though why this should be remains a bit of a mystery as the owner, chefs and staff get the opportunity to showcase thier skills to 30 or so people who might not normally have walked through the doors - at least this is how I approached it when I was a chef.

So Friday night 34 people ranging from 25 to 65 years of age, all professional, all used to eating in 'nice' restaurants. We were greeted with a smile, shown to our tables in a nicely decorated room and champagne was served. So far so good. Sadly those are the only nice things I can say. There was a set menu so that only things we had to choose were the main courses - fillet mignon, salmon in a champagne sauce, a vegetable stew and, of course, turkey, The starters and deserts were a tasting plate of several things, likewise the dessert. In the middle was a ravioli of riccotta and something.

I explained to the waiter for our table that I was allergic to dairy and asked for his help in selecting a meal. He asked what I meant. Now, I appreciate that I perhaps should have let them know in advance but I hadn't realised the menu was quite so 'set' and in most places that consider themselves a cut above a 'Harvester' chefs are only too happy to try to accomodate allergies etc where ever possible and if not an apology is sent. I doubt the waiter even mentioned it to the kitchen as I was presented with both the ravioli and the dessert, refused both and was not offered an alternative. The waiter would serve, inexplicably leave out one person on the table until I stood on a chiar and waved at him when a further plate would be brought and ignore all requests for white wine whilst pouring red into evreyone's glasses. I coldn't work out if he was just rude, had mental health problems or was deaf.

The portions were very small, the main courses were almost indedible. My partner pronounced the ravioli as being one of the most tasteless things he had ever eaten. His steak was cold, overdone and tough (fillet mignon served medium - we were not asked how it was to be cooked!). The turkey was 'roll' served with something that resembled but was even more tasteless than paxo stuffing also in a roll although the accompanying sausage was alright. The music was then cranked up to allow dancing. Now I'm in my mid thirties and the music being played reminded me of family 'dos' when i was younger when my parents would twitch around a dance floor in their wedding finery to 'The Twist' whilst their older cousins and siblings would leap up at a bit of 'Rock Around The Clock'. The age of the clientele was mixed but the play list was more 'Smashy and Nicey' than shake your booty. Surely there is scope for range of music to suit all tastes from a bit of 'Groove is in the Heart' to 'Scissor Sisters' on a party night - the 11pm playing of the original Band Aid single was a particularly odd choice for a group of people who have just eaten - maybe a comment on the small portions??!!

So these people who love the restaurant and the dancing and are willing to queue up and pay over the odds for drinks - are they all from Essex? Because I couldn't remember a more 'provincial' night out since an ill advised hen do in Sheffield.

I won't be back.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, December 17, 2007

For the avoidance of doubt, I am talking about Little Italy in Frith Street!

Before I moved to Dorset, I was a regular visitor to Little Italy's sister restaurant, Nolita in Brookmans Park/Hatfield, Herts and have always thoroughly enjoyed going there.

I finally went to Little Italy last week and can't believe it's taken me so long to experience it! Despite it being quite late already and very busy, we had a great table and the food was great and with the wonderful staff and lively atmosphere, the four of us had a lot of fun!

My only small gripe is the cost, mainly the drink and particularly the Veuve Cliquot... as it's at least £10 more expensive than two other venues close by... and we do like Bubbly! However, that will not stop us from going back.

Little Italy is definitely going to be a regular haunt during my numerous trips to London!
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Debbie Tarrier
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 6
Sunday, December 16, 2007