Numero Uno

It truly truly upsets me to see any bad reviews of this restaurant! I've been there a number of times and found the service exceptionally good! Really warm and friendly place, with great food and beautiful interior.

AND they generally slip me a free Amaretto at the end! One of my favourite restaurants in London!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

I am sorry that the reviewer below has such a bad experience at this restaurant.

I eat out a lot with work, and have experienced food at some of the finest restaurants in London, and I can honestly say that on the two occasions I have eaten here the food has been outstanding.

The last time I visited was on Sunday evening and I had a delicious and very tender carpaccio of beef, followed by some sublime and extremely fresh grilled squid. The portions are the perfect size too.

This restaurant is a local one and it makes a great change from visiting the usual chains. The difference between this restaurant and a lot of others is that the food is genuinely authentic and the waitors really know their stuff. For example, my mother asked for a small bowl of tomato pasta as her primi, and they dutifully obliged, with a sauce that was without doubt the best I have tasted outside Italy.

If you like Italian food, and live in the local area, I would book yourself a table here for any occasion.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

After posting the below review following a meal on Saturday and having writtien a letter of complaint directly to the restaurant, the owner came to see me today to offer his apologies and explained that our experience was very unusual. Having seen their swift response to try and rectify our bad experience, I felt compelled to update my review to say I genuinely hope that our evening was the true exception and I would be willing to give the restaurant another try. I hope that our next visit matches the positive reviews below.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

My Husband and I visited Numero Uno on Saturday 9th February after it was recommended to us by a friend plus I had read the good reviews below. Upon arrival we were offered a choice of two tables, one by the toilet or one in the direct path to the kitchen. We chose the latter as we decided that we didn’t fancy sitting by the toilets all night. Bearing in mind that we have a one year old child and nights out now take more planning (babysitter etc), we really looked forward to a nice relaxing meal.

We were given menus to look at and chose a starter and main each. Within minutes of ordering our meals, the starters were in front of us. The starters were ok but nothing to write home about, especially considering the price. Within seconds of finishing our starters, our plates were whisked away and by 8.20pm our mains were in front of us. The fish I had certainly did not look like it had been freshly made after I ordered it a mere ten minutes earlier. Having barely digested the starters we only managed to eat a small proportion of the main and I really felt like I was forcing the food down (to avoid it getting cold) as opposed to enjoying and savouring the experience. Again within seconds of us putting our knives and forks down, our plates were whisked away and we were offered the dessert menu!!! Needless to say we declined. To add to the feeling of being hurried off our table, the waiters kept on bumping into us as they tried to get to the table next to us. The whole experience was one of chaos and frustration and it was a far cry from a relaxed meal for two.

By 8.50pm having paid over £65 for the privilege, we left the restaurant less than an hour after arriving, feeling seriously annoyed. What should have been a lovely evening for us had turned into one of our worst nights ever. All in all the evening cost us in excess of £100 after paying a baby sitter for the evening.

My husband and I regularly eat out at restaurants such as Lamberts (Balham), Harrisons (Balham), Chez Bruce (Wandsworth), etc and in all of of time living in the area we have never had such a bad experience as we did on Saturday night. Needles to say, we will choose those restaurants again in the future as they provide much better value for money and a much more pleasant dining experience. I hope for Numero Uno's sake that our experience was not the norm, but it would be worthwhile for them to remember that customer experience makes or breaks a restaurant and their current standards of service and food are not reflective of the customer comments and reviews I have seen. I am sure that simple things like not having all your customers show up at 8-8.15pm would help so that their staff and kitchen can cope and they do not have to rush around trying to get the whole restaurant served at the same time, which can only lead to drop in the quality of customer service and the quality of the food being served. I hope that Numero Uno's managemnt team take this advice seriously. Otherwise I am sure my complaint will become more and more common when people talk about their restaurant.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, February 11, 2008

Excellent Italian restaurant at the southern end of Northcote Road. This is no pizzeria and is perfect for when you want a refined Italian meal (if pasta can be referred to as such).

The welcome is warm and typically Italian and the restaurant is lively. The food was excellent (try the homemade tiramasu), wine equally so and prices reasonable.

All in all a great find, and somewhere to take your friends or family for a special meal (especially if they are Italian) and show off one of the best Italian restaurants in Battersea.
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Mark B - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Fantastic local Italian. Great atmosphere, friendy welcome, excellant food at a very reasonable price. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone.
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Paul Selby
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 19, 2007

Definitely the best Italian on the Northcote Road...

Have eaten here several times over the last year and I will keep returning. It is a very friendly, old-fashioned family-run Italian restaurant. Recently went there for Saturday lunch with our 2-week old baby and his grand parents and the staff couldn't do enough for us - a lovely and genuine example of the very family-centric Italian culture. The food was excellent - the starters all fresh and good, Sea Bass was very fresh and delicious, the lobster linguine excellent (and amazing value!) and the pasta Susannah York delicious too. Deserts from the trolley aren't usually their strong point but they were all very good too.

highly recommended.
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Jules - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, June 29, 2007

Six of us went there the evening of 25 May. It was busy and bustling. The service was excellent (very quick when ordering refills of wine etc) and the food was OK. Didn't like the intrusive muzak and the menus were dirty.
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Derek
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

I have been a regular visitor at the exquisite Italian restaurant for nearly 6 years and every time has been a fantastic experience. The food has been amazing and mouth watering every time, the service always very attentive, polite and not clingy. Last but not least, very good value for money. Fantastic food at a busy place with an amazing atmosphere. I have recommended this restaurant to many friends and no one has ever returned disappointed.
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Helena
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Three friends and I ate at the restaurant yesterday lunch time and were very impressed. The decor was lovely ( I am always impressed by white linen table cloths and sparkling wine glasses), the service was attentive when we wanted something but it was not 'clingy' and there was no 'hanging around' our table. Best of all was the food - delicious! I wil definitely return.
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Suzanne Levy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, December 31, 2006