Regatta

BEWARE of this place, surgical removal of the money in your wallet in my opinion !!

When we got there we were ordered a bottle of wine, the bottle was opened in front of us, they topped up our glasses and to my horror took the bottle away!! Oldest trick in the book to get you to drink faster ! They brought the bottle back , poured wine in the glasses and took it away again, unbelievable !

Average price of the starters was £7.50 ,they arrived, and were the smallest portions you ever saw, and guess what on huge plates, which Gordan Ramsey would have hated !! Another classic trick. To give the food it's due it was excellent, avocado and crab salad were very fresh but just not enough of it.

Whilst we were waiting for our mains I noted the decor was very tired and dated, ragrolled walls ,very 80s, full of the moneyed classes of Winchmore Hill, regulars being greeted with familiarity,fine if you were friends with the owner, not so fine if you were not. A very cliquey atmosphere prevailed.

I chose linguine with lobster, the portion arrived tiny tiny, on an enormous plate, I was expecting more food at nearly £18.00 !! Same with all the other mains, it was so shockly designed to rip you off it couldn't be more obvious.

We all had desserts, average price £7.00 each, these arrived very quickly so obviously made in advance.

When the bill came, the waitor craftily included service not as an option but as part of the bill so you had no choice. At any stage I could have made a fuss, but it was my friend's birthday and I didn't want to ruin it.

This came to £130.00 in North London for 3 people !! I kid you not. I don't mind paying that in the West End if you get plenty of food and are made to feel welcome. No-one said good bye to us on the way out and our coats were just left on a chair.

But this place is a complete rip-off, uses every trick in the book and wouldn't know what value for money was. My perception of Italien restaurants is on the whole friendly welcoming, and don't rip off the customer. I won't ever be returning here, and I strongly warn other customers to watch portion sizes if they go.
Comment on this reader review

N.H
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, February 26, 2008