Olive Garden Raynes Park

I really like this place. I'm very fussy about my Italian food but I find the food to be tasty and authentic. But the highlight to me is the deli. The food is always very fresh and served by very helpful, knowlegeable and smiley staff (Unlike some other Italian delis in the area). Franco (the owner/ manager?) is delightful. In fact, i've got them to cater for a big party and he couldn't have been more helpful!
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Daniella
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

I have been to many Italian restaurants all over London and never been completely happy until I went to Olive Garden. Although is a bit of a trip for me, its all worth it. Food is amazing, staff are extremely friendly and good value for money. I without a doubt recommend it to anyone.
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Andrea
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

I went to Olive Garden on wednesday with my friends and it was the best dinner ever all my friends enjoed it. Very good service, friendly staff and amazing atmosphare. Good price for value and the portions are very generous. I would recommend this place to everybody. ENJOY IT.
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Lynne Smith
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 17, 2008

I live close to this restaurant and have had take away a number of times. I find the pizzas hugely salty to the point where I have been forced to throw it in the bin after 1 slice! The strange thing being that I am a fan of salty foods, but this was just too much for me! As for pasta dishes, I have had 2 and found both to be swimming in oil.

On paper this restaurant is great and an asset to Raynes Park, which is crying out for good restaurants, (when the heck are they going to smarten up the Tavern!!). In practise however OG is just not for me.

However, on a small positive note, I really do rate the deli side of it....

But as for restaurants (and pubs), I will be continuing to head up to the village...
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Thursday, March 13, 2008

Unfortunately what is normally a reasonably priced restaurant chose to try and take advantage of its customers by completely ripping them off on Valentine's Day. Prices were more than doubled (almost trebled) - charging £29 (per person - which wasn't stated when we called and booked) for a very simple three course meal (which was NOT optional) consisiting of a choice of three small starters, just four of their (normally) most inexpensive regular meals (no steak for example) and only one meagre dessert. With just two glasses of house wine and the ridiculous inclusion of a 12.5% service charge this came to more than £76. Was Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen back there?!

In a similar vein to the publican trade seeking to take advanatge of customers on New Year's Eve in 1999 (and finding it subsquently backfired) this short-term approach of ripping off customers based on the date will not reap the benefit in the long-term. As a former regular customer I have eaten at this venue for the very last time.
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G. Price
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 15, 2008

I don't know what restaurant a lot of these people went to but it certainly wasn't the Olive Garden. I went with my family on a Tuesday evening in December. The place filled up quite quickly so is advisable to book. There was a constant stream of people coming in for takeaway pizzas so they must be doing something right. The three of us had starters, main and dessert with wine and bottled water and we found the price was not excessive, in fact average for London. We didn't have a long wait for any of the courses and everything was hot. We found the service excellent and the staff very attentive. The music certainly wasn't intrusive and you could hold a decent conversation. We even got a free drink on the house as we were first time customers. We will certainly come back to the Olive Garden. Raynes Park needs decent restaurants and this is one of them.
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Dawn, Raynes Park
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 21, 2008

Italian side is good, coffee shop is filled with humourless italian waitresses...
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 13, 2008

Went to this restaurant a month after they opened, and I enjoyed the best meal I've had in an Italian restaurant in London - friendly staff, good service and fast. We left the place really happy.

We went again two months later, and things had change. The pasta was not freshly made, and flooded with sauce. The pizza was cold, and with much less ingredients than before. And the prices are very expensive for what you get. Being an Italian myself and growing up on Italian cooking kitchen, this doesn't represent the best of our food.

Left very disappointed and probably never go there again.
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Marta
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Saturday, January 12, 2008

I live very local to this resteraunt , it is expensive for a bulk standard italian, Starter, Main , Dessert and Wine for two £80.00

Like so many small resteraunts seating is a problem and it is not uncommon for customers to be turned away at the door - not a good sign, it means overbooking.

The staff are not unfriendly but service is slow. The optional 12.5% service charge is high and hidden in the small print, they do not point it out, presumably hoping for an extra tip. Lastly the loud music is a great distraction, you cannot hear a conversation easily.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, December 05, 2007

We have been a regular of this restaurant for several years now -- even when it used to be called Cafe Marquee. The refurbishment of the restaurant has meant that the prices have been raised by about 25%, however it has also resulted in a larger menu with a kids section and pizzas. We have never had a bad meal here, and the staff have always been attentive and friendly. We will continue to go again and again, especially with our daughter.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Friday, November 30, 2007