Frantoio

Still good.
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James - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 24, 2013

We had a really fun night at Frantoio this week, and are so pleased we have finally been! Bucci was an incredibly welcoming host, the lobster spaghettini was one of the best I've had, we had a fantastic wine, and rolled home very content. Great atmosphere and lovely to see so many happy faces around us!
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, December 20, 2012

We have been to Frantoio twice in quick succession, and both evenings have been great.

The food is good, the place has a lovely buzz to it, the staff are friendly and confident, and you have a good time. It isn't particularly cheap, partly because you get tempted by delicious puddings, but the restaurant clearly demonstrates that location is not everything. Don’t be put off by the depressing arcade in which Frantoio stands, you will have a good time.
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James - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 18, 2012

On 10th February 2012 I had 20 girl friends for a special birthday lunch and I cannot thank the staff and especially the chefs for such a wonderful time. When my husband (who paid!) received thank you letters, every single person said what wonderful service and what delicious food they had. So Ginge and you all - A HUGE THANK YOU
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David & Di Robertson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 09, 2012

Now back to the serious matter of football in general and Chelsea in particular. It has not been a good season at all and I put it firmly down to “Langan’s Bar & Grill” in Earls court shutting halfway through last season. How we loved our pre-match meals before wandering down to the Bridge. Since then we have struggled to find a regular haunt. “Bodeans” is decent enough but getting a table is a lottery, “Butchers Hook” is too busy, “Sophie’s Steakhouse” too pricey. None has been a consistent choice so our pre-match ritual has floundered much like the team this season. However just recently we have been going to Frantoio on the Kings Road. Now location wise it isn’t ideal as it is nowhere near the tube and stupidly the Boris bikes don’t cover that area. From the outside it doesn’t look much and in fact inside is a bit of a mish mash of styles. However the welcome is warm and pre-match it is busy with a nice mix of footie fans and regulars.

Beardy Marc knows the owner well so we do tend to get looked after. The menu is standard Italian trattoria but without the pizza. Last time I had some very nice deep fried seafood in a very light batter followed by a seriously tasty and wafer thin escalope of veal. It was really very nice indeed, good portions of nice tasty food. You can’t really ask for more. Desserts were a bit hit and miss, the tiramisu needed a bit more booze but all the guys really enjoyed their food. It has been very busy during our last two visits but the staff have got all the food out in plenty of time and of course you can have a nice drink whilst you wait.

What really helps the place is the nice staff particularly the owner who wanders around his very busy joint entertaining the customers. A real character and a nice change to the sterile and soulless vibe of most London chain eateries. You don’t get the manager of Carluccio’s parading around in a customer’s fur coat! Food always seems to come to about £25-£0 a head which is good value for a hearty feed and a few drinks. So all in all the chaps were impressed and this is worth a walk out of the way. This sort of place shows that an expensive modern look and cutting edge faddy food can only get you so far you need a generate a good atmosphere. Frantoio delivers that in bags, nice to have a fun place to go to pre-match again!
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david ginsberg - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, February 02, 2012

After reading the reviews below, I was expecting nothing short of spectacular, but was sorely disappointed. I had assumed that, given the season, Frantoio would have have some truffle in stock, but that was not to be. The restaurant was only about 1/4th full this Sunday evening.

We found the standard a la carte menu very ho hum, and ordered mostly from the specials menu. There wasn't much vegetarian fare on offer (my husband is vegetarian), and the food (lentil soup, prosciutto, ravioli, fettuccine with clams) ranged from insipid to plain bad. I wasn't expecting much from the service anyway, and not being 'regulars' we were ignored for long periods of time in between the courses.

The best part of the meal was a bottle of Brunello - but at 85 a bottle, it would have been a crime had it fallen short. Dinner for 2 including the wine came to £155. I wish I could've booked La Famiglia across the road instead, since I loved the food I had there a couple of weeks back - tartufo in good supply, lots of vegetarian options and no 12.5% service charge. An expensive error in judgement, this.
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Suruchi
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Sunday, November 07, 2010

By far my favourite Italian restaurant in Chelsea. I always get given a warm welcome, and the children are made such a fuss of they love it too! Can't recommend it highly enough - as a family we are regulars and I also have had my birthday dinners and girls' dinners there because it is so much fun, and the food is delicious!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 27, 2010

This is a MUST visit. A friend of mine is a regular at Frantoio and rates it very highly so I booked a table for a friend's birthday on a sunday lunchtime. The food was delicious and there was plenty of choice on the menu. The service is superb and the atmosphere very friendly.

It's a little bit of Italy in the heart of London!
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Helen
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 17, 2010