Risto Restaurant

Along with 7 friends I attended the `Opera' night on 29th November, an excellent evening of music with a fantastic singer. Unfortunately the night was spoilt by the long wait for food. 1 hour before our order was taken then another 30minutes for the starter to be brought to the table. Our empty main course plates were left in front of us for nearly 25 minutes - totally unacceptable. Three tables of 2 who came in after us had their food much quicker than we did. The food, when it did arrive, was outstanding and on previous visits the service was so much better. A shame the evening was marred by the service. I hope next time we visit them the service will be quicker.
Comment on this reader review

Mary Jones
7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, December 07, 2011

This restuarant has the slowest service possible, never gets the order right and is very overpriced. I have been there 3 times - by invitation of a family member, so not by personal choice and if you arrive at 7pm you will be lucky to have a starter by 7-45, there were not many other diners when we were there and we were a party of 7. For 5 starters, 7 main courses, only 2 bottles of standard wine and a cake for dessert the bill came to £310, £44 per head which I think is very overpriced. Twice I have ordered the prawns and although it doesnt state on the menu Chilli I specifically say no chilli, on both occassions the dish has arrived full of chilli, no rice , it comes with rice. Another member of our party ordered smoked salmon to start and got salmon crab and prawn rolls. This isnt down to one specific waiter as we have always had different waiters so I think the chef just gives you what he fancies.

I wouldnt go here out of choice, it is small and not much atmosphere and the bill isnt itemised. It took 3 hours for a 3 course meal to be served. If you have all evening and do enjoy eating at a slow pace then you may enjoy the experience. Be careful if you order the special as this isnt priced either or the drink of the day.
Comment on this reader review

A Brown
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Friday, October 07, 2011

My wife and I have visited Risto's on several occasions for the lunch time menu. We have eaten many of the dishes on the menu and always been more than satisfied with our choices. Every meal has been extremely well cooked and excellent quality. The one small criticism I would make is that the main meal would be better with an extra vegetable but nevertheless the lunch time meal at £12.50 for two courses for two people is excellent value for money.
Comment on this reader review

stuart
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, September 15, 2011

My wife, my eleven year old son and I had a really wonderful meal. Very friendly and courteous staff and excellent value for money food. They currently offer a two course set meal for £12.50 and if you order from this menu from Mon - Thurs between 6 and 7 (I think, might even be 7.30) the second person's meal is half price! My wife had Avocado with crab meat and tehn Tortelli with Porcini mushrooms, I had the spaghetti with prawns followed by a delicious neck of lamb with mash. Wonderful.
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, August 25, 2011

I found the food here of exceptional quality. I agree the service was a little slow, but I feel that Risto is a breath of fresh air from the in and out dining we have become a custom to. I am going there on sunday with my girlfriend and I'm looking forward to it!
Comment on this reader review

will
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, January 04, 2011

My husband and I ate at Risto for the first time on Saturday evening (24th July 2010). We had a truly excellent experience. The food was of an excellent quality and was beautifully presented (I had the lemon sole and my husband the duck). The service was not as quick as you might get in the high street chains but was by no means slow (I waited considerably longer in Ask a fortnight ago). Similarly the prices were not as low as you would get in the chains but there is a reason for this - the food at Risto is a significant cut above. The waiting staff were polite and competent but also very friendly. There were a number of regulars in who they knew quite well which is always a good sign. This is not the cheapest meal to be found on Beckenham High Street but if you're looking for a change from the usual chains (Ask, Zizzi, Pizza Express et al) then you can't do much better than this.
Comment on this reader review

8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, July 26, 2010

i have eaten at risto a few times and have never had a bad experience, the waiters are friendly and the service was far from slow, and the meal was delicious.

i would suggest those who have bad experiences dining out to always try again as every place deserves its chances, especially smaller businesses, i have also eaten in other restaurants in beckenham, Nando's and pizza express, and have had bad experiences there, but still go back as everyday is not the same

anyways i would definatly reccomend risto to friends and family, and do plan on going again soon, as i hear it is freshly decorated with wonderful paintings on the wall, i look forward to yet another pleasant experience
Comment on this reader review

kay
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, July 02, 2010

I have been to this restaurant on so many occasions and I can honestly say that my meal has always been excellent! The service has always been excellent! And the price is very reasonable for the overall quality of the whole dining experience! All my friends that I have been either with me or with other company have never said a bad word about the place so I don't understand the bad reviews but then no restaurant is perfect and I guess if you have a bad experience you are more likely to write about it than if you had a good one!
Comment on this reader review

Nikki
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, July 01, 2010

I think that this place is great..

I dont know how you people can say this is bad

This has great food and quite honestly i would just ignore the people who are critisicing this place.

I will recommend this place to anybody and i hope this place goes a long way.
Comment on this reader review

Frederick Thomson
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, April 04, 2010

Went to Risto today for a Mother's Day lunch (Pizza Express and Nando's were both too full to accommodate us). Pretty soon found that there was a valid reason for this place's empty covers on a traditional day for eating lunch out: Risto's service is abysmally slow, and the staff just don't care. The food is the same quality as Sodexo's (a pretty decent caterer for schools, offices, etc). What it is NOT is excellent Italian cooking. All three of us had different main courses, but all had the same gravy served with it, for instance - it was clear from its uniform consistency and lack of speckles, meat bits, etc that it was out of a packet. Fair enough down the pub ladled over a £5 roast, but shocking for a set meal that cost nearly £20 for a prawn cocktail, a TINY roast, and a pudding which was so slow (think 2 hours after we first ordered) that we gave up before it arrived, paid and left.

Noticed that a table seated just after we started putting our coats on was given the usual basket of bread and oil to nibble on: we weren't though. Shame, as it would have filled in the 40 minute wait for our prawn cocktail and tomato penne starters quite nicely. Oh, and the wall next to where I was sitting was absolutely COVERED in stains, splashes and so on from previous diners. Grim, non?

We shall never, ever, be going back to this atrocious place. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Comment on this reader review

Edda
3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Sunday, March 14, 2010