Cantina Italia

One of my favourite Italian restaurants in London- friendly staff and wonderful food. I was surprised by the v. negative comments below- totally wrong! Definitely try to eat here- the ingredients are all really fresh and the staff actually care.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 03, 2007

Very surprised by the negative review on here. We recently moved into the area and found this place by chance. The food is varied and not your standard Italian fare. The wine prices are very good and the house red and white very palatable and only around £13 a bottle. The portions are not huge - but non of us came away wanting more than the two courses we'd eaten. OK the staff is very Italian in attitude - but it adds to the atmosphere and if you're not in a hurry it makes an enjoyable place to eat. it is not haut cuisine but is an excellent local eatery. We will definitely be going back - and recommending it.
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paul
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 30, 2007

This is the first review I have written - it just had to be done...

THE WORST RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO.

It wasn't the food - although my non-fussy friend had to send her burned pizza back

It wasn't the portions - a small bowl of lettuce and tomato for £4.50 (we refused to have this and they didn’t seem surprised that we refused)

It wasn’t the truly terrible service – my friend asked for cheese and black pepper on her pizza, they sprinkled some cheese and when she asked for some pepper for the 3rd time they handed her a little pepper mill with some ground pepper in it.

It was the staff who were just rude, we sat at the back of the restaurant and about 8 of them stood 1 table away, next to the kitchen where some of them had come out of shouting to each other and laughing in Italian.

When I asked if they could go elsewhere the waitress was sarcastic and seemed annoyed that WE wanted to be able to talk.

It was as if they were there for social reasons and having to serve us and think that we were customers was just too much.

Stay away!
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Friday, August 03, 2007

This is my local italian and never fails to impress me. I was in here last night with my girlfriend and the food, service and atmosphere were as excellent as ever. The food must be authentic for all the tables around me to be filled with Italians chatting away in their tongue, it almost made me feel as though I'd stepped out of Islington for the evening, and ended up in Italy.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Based on the comments above, im really looking forward to this restaurant. Ive been a regular on upper street for years, with the strada and the mercury as favourites (though the mercury has gone down hill now in a big big way) and also live partly in italy so im used to the very best italy has to offer.

I see eileens comments and respect them, though I do see it is improbable that her experience amounted to any more than a technical error.

If this restaurant can offer as much as a southern italy agri turismo can offer (at an albeit london price) then I will be happy to be considered a patron

PS: if the staff reading this want to give me a discount, I will promise them a party of at least 6 on a regular basis.. ;o)
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Steven Hamilton-Healey
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Friday, May 18, 2007

I been so disapointed by this restaurant,the waiting staff were more interested in chatting between themselves and did'nt pay any attention to us.We had to wait more than 10 minutes to get our first drink,it wasn't even busy that night.The service was so slow.The main course were overcooked and too salty,i asked the waiter to call the manager and he told me he was to busy to come,at this point i started to look for the manager.I found him, and i told him i wasn't going to pay for my meal.We just paid for our drinks and left this dodgy place.
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ROBERT
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

I'm not sure what the negative reviewer below found wrong with this place. I was there the same night and had a great time.

The restaurant is probably best described as 'funky' - modern art on the walls, cool music playing quietly in the background, dim lighting. The staff were really nice and attentive. The food was sensational for this area and worth the prices. It all sounds great on the menu and almost certainly is on the plate. I had pork and fries - the meat was so tender it fell off the bone perfectly. The pasta dishes (mostly featuring fish) sounded lovely too. We had a bottle of house red which was very nice.

Definitely recommend this for a good place to go with friends.
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Pete
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 01, 2007

The worst place i ever been in london for years,everything was wrong from the beginning we step foot inside.I will never come back to this place they so called "restaurant"
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JUSTICE
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 28, 2007

My boyfriend and I love this place: the food is amazing, very authentic, and the staff very friendly. It is a good value for money. I always recommend it to everyone!
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Susy
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 19, 2007

Cantina Italia is just the top of Italy in London.

Please just try and trust me,its worth it to the penny,food,wine,price and fun too, are simply the best.
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Gigi Tonca
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 09, 2007