Da Mario

This place is the best. I've eaten here a few dozen times since moving to London and have never been disappointed. Every time I recommend it to friends, they love it. It's wonderful food at very reasonable prices. The house red is lovely. The chief waiter is a little quirky, but it adds to the charm. Da Mario is the best-kept secret in central London, if you ask me.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A friend and I were desperately hunting a quick lunch before an afternoon theatre performance one sunny afternoon and stumbled in here on a saturday afternoon.

Seated outside, quite little side street - we really didn't want to leave.

Everything about it was excellent - really friendly helpful service clearly family run - the owner's wife had made the ravioli which was delicious, lovely crisp dry white wine, and a nice little dessert and a good strong coffee all came in at around £25 tops.

I now go there regularly - have never ever been disappointed - would like to keep it a secret but whenever asked for a recommendation centrally this is my number one.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 16, 2010

I have eaten here many times over the last few years and also recommended it to a few friends - none have been disappointed.

Like several reviewers I have eaten in Italy a lot as well - and I would agree this place is very authentic.

My last meal there I ate alone on an impromtu visit while working in London and the staff were particularly attentive, and I did not feel at all out of place, which can happen when dining alone.

The pasta was so good I phoned my Mum from the restuarant to tell her to come!

Not for an intimate meal due to the small size but great atmosphere, value and quality.
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Martin Williams - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 09, 2010

We went to this restaurant based on other people's recommendations and it lived up to the rave reviews. A wonderful Italian restaurant - extremely well priced and the food was amazing! The seafood pasta was the best I have tasted. The waiter was friendly yet unobtrusive and provided great service. All in all a wonderful find tucked away in Covent Garden. You definitely need to book as the restaurant is tiny and gets full.
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Emma
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

What a lovely restaurant i found on this website. The food was excellent and the service very professional. We were there on a monday night and the place was full. I would highly recommend this place. They also do gluten free pasta and I will bring one of my friend who is a coeliac very soon.
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marylou
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 06, 2010

Overall a good experience - we wanted a fairly quick Pre-Theatre meal and booked in here for about 5:30ish. We turned up at 5:45, and left shortly before 7 having managed a full 3 course, but not feeling rushed.

It is obviously a well known secret as was full of pre-theatre folk, including some people who obviously use it regularly.

Starter of Stuffed baby squid was good, main course of pasta was very good - having been to various parts of Italy - including Sicily - I can confirm it tasted authentic.

Less enamoured with the desserts, but nothing wrong with them, just not that exciting.

Would return - cost was 60 odd quid for 3 course plus a beer and a bottle of the house white. About what I expected and fair value.
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Jeremy F - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 18, 2010

This is one of my favourite restaurants in town. I have been going every so often for a few years now. One of the major selling points for me, a coeliac, is the chance to go out for an Italian and not just have the risotto! Where else can a coeliac get to choose from almost the entire menu in an Italian restaurant? Unsurprisingly, even though Da Mario also does lots of great main dishes, I always end up going for a pasta dish and to this day, I have never had a mix-up when ordering a dish with gluten-free pasta. I hope to be eating here for many more years to come!
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Joanna James
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I've been to Italy twice this year, and have dined extensively in and around Sorrento, Lake Como and Milan, at highly-recommended restaurants charging considerable amounts of money - up to £140 a head.

Overall, I had one outstanding and memorable meal in a seafood restaurant in Sorrento, otherwise the food everywhere was pleasant enough but average, and desperately lacking in invention, variety and decently-cooked vegetables. If you think you can get tasty salads made with succulent tomatoes, forget it, they must export them all in tins. Strictly supermarket standard - hard and tasteless.

When I was in Rome a couple of years ago, I had a similar experience, likewise in Turin. Italy keeps its best restaurants a closely-guarded secret, and when you find one, boy, do they know how to charge. There is no question in my mind that in general you will eat better Italian food in London and New York, at more reasonable prices, than you will in the cities of Italy.

I would have been overjoyed to find a Da Mario on my travels. This family-run restaurant is small and unpretentious, but has a nice variety of tables, laid with proper tablecloths and nice glassware. It has a cheerful ambience. I have never had a bad meal here. The menu is interesting and very good value, the specials are inviting, the cooking and ingredients are of a high standard, the wines are reasonably-priced and well-chosen by the owner, who is an enthusiast, and you are warmly greeted by the family and their staff.

I should keep quiet about Da Mario, but that selfishness is outweighed by a stronger self-interest: I want them to keep on being successful so that I can keep on eating there.
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Martin Saville
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 19, 2009

I was appreciate going for a lunch or dinner at Da Mario, but my last experience with a really unfriendlly service made me go way forever from this restaurant.. I love the food, but there is hundreds of good italian restaurants in London with great pasta and great services... they should have a better customer care.
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Aline
6 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Booked due to good reviews and was not disappointed. Even at 19.15 on a Saturday, the place was busy, just as well we booked.Staff very welcoming and attentive and nothing too much bother. Ravioli and home made gnocci was fresh, wholesome and nicely presented.Would like to have had a starter but went for the dessert instead. The crepes and panacotta were excellent. for two people,two courses, carafe of good house wine and coffee - £43. Good value for money.
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8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, November 15, 2009