Bucci

I visited Bucci’s last week with my boyfriend. We used to go fairly regularly when he lived in Balham and always had a good experience. I glanced at the other reviews on this page before going and was nervous about going back as it sounded like its service and standards had slipped. Definitely not! Food was superb, service really personal and beyond expectations, reasonably priced for the standard and will certainly be going back. The owner/manager served us and gave his opinion on wine and food selection and really made an effort. Not sure if other reviewers went on a bad day but I’d encourage others to give it a go if you haven’t already as it’s one of the best restaurants in South London.
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Emily
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 15, 2010

First impressions of Bucci were good, a cosy, bustling atmosphere on a Friday night and a warm welcome. The food, however, ranged from ordinary to poor. The vegetarian antipasti was fair, the goat's cheese with red onion chutney was heavy-going.

The meal went downhill when it came to main courses, which arrived after a wait of more than 30 minutes. A fish dish was so overcooked it was inedible and had to be returned. Warned that a replacement dish would take some time, I opted for a pasta course. By the time it arrived, my friends had finished eating.

An apology, an offer of a discount from the meal or a glass of wine would have gone some way to making up for a disappointing evening. The waiter, however, insisted that as customers we just had to pay the bill and accept problems as part and parcel of the dining experience. We were not charged for the fish dish, but were charged for the replacement pasta.

When asked if he should not make some gesture to make up for poor service and the fact a party of three had to eat in two separate sittings, he simply shrugged his shoulders, said 'we're an Italian'. He added that if he did this for us he would have to do it for everyone - which didn't seem to say a lot for the general level of quality and service.

We left very surpised at the switch from charm to rudeness and will not be returning.
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3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, December 14, 2009

lower to middle of the road italian. There are much better places in the area
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Clair and Andy - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sadly Bucci changed its menu a few weeks ago. Much-inflated prices and woefully poor quality. We have been going there regularly since 2006, but it's off the list now.
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5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Thursday, November 19, 2009

We had Saltimbucca and Prawns with Garlic as main courses with a side order of vegetables. Saltimbucca was Ok. For £13 the Prawn main course consisted of 4 distinctly unfresh prawns (so soft they were probably originally frozen) on a bed of rocket.

The vegetables were the sort of overboiled, unfresh veg last served in the '80s.

Very unsatisfactory for the price. Both of us left hungry and popped into the Tesco petrol station nearby to get more food.
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Kevin
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Friday, October 02, 2009

Bucci's is our local restaurant and our very favourite. We frequent it regularly and often introduce our friends to it. Without exception everyone always has been pleased with the atmosphere, the service and the food.
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10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 09, 2009