L'Anima

Went for dinner - a first visit but certainly not the last. Fantastic food - the stracci was delicious, the pork succulent with crisp crackling and the risotto was deliciously creamy. The extensive wine list has some reasonably priced wines from the less popular regions. The service, as commented on by others, is friendly and on the ball but not too attentive. The bar is noisy - but this is better than somewhere so quiet you feel constrained to whisper. The restaurant is quieter but still has a buzz. The space itself is modern and open - some will like it (we did) and others will hate it. However the food is so good it overcomes any reservations.

Pity about the reviews which take the populist line that the clientele consists mainly of 'City prats'. I don't work in that type of business but find those who take this view to be unattractive bigots who on examination haven't a clue what they are talking about. Try getting to know some of the 'prats' - you will probably be pleasantly surprised and will undoubtedly learn something.
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Neil Austin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 19, 2009

Went for lunch, was very nice, food excellent, very nice poussin dish.

Wine was also very good. Only thing is the place is very noisy - prepare to shout a lot.
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Terry Bye
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 15, 2009

I know it's expensive but I did not begrudge paying out one single penny as the food was simply fantastic. Service attentive but not over-bearing. Nice buzzy atmosphere; great wine but the star is the food - just heavenly
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TF
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, October 10, 2009

L'Anima makes an impression before you even enter the restaurant with its glass walls and the glowing white round tables and chairs. As you enter the dining area through an opening in the glass partition, you leave behind the noise of the bar area and enter into an atmosphere of tranquillity.

The service was great and the Baccala mantecato starter was exquisite but the mains had too much salt which was really a shame. It was clear from the flavours we could taste under the salt that with the right amount of salt both my fish stew and my husband's wild mushroom fettucini would have been great. The excess salt unfortunately really ruined our meal.
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Maki
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, March 05, 2009

Last minute booking on a friday night found ourselves seated at the high tables in the bar area ... a very sleek space indeed.

I could see that service in the main restaurant was smart and proficient, in the bar area it was a little more hit and miss, for example we received a bowl of olive oil for dipping but no bread to dip in it!

Food is very good, the scallops, bacalla, strascinati, turbot and profiteroles were simply all outstanding (maybe the stracinati was a little oily but I won't knock marks off). Wine list is extensive but staff are knowledgeable and helpful (at pointing out more expensive options, ho hum)

I'm not quite sure who they are targetting though. Rich couples would have a lovely romantic night here, but its in the city so how many couples would be looking for romantic restaurants? Business men could show off their corporate credit cards here but I'm not sure its in the right location or got the right ambience. Young funky entrepreneurs could happily chatter away with expensive cocktails but can young entrepreneurs afford to do this this right now? Luckily I live near by, so when I have a little money burning a hole in my pocket I will definitely be coming back for a romantic/funky time but unfortunately it will have to be on my own credit card so it won't be a regular haunt (although I wish it could be!)
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London Rouge
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 16, 2009

one of london's best italian restaurants up with assagi and locanda locatelli ( where some of the staff are from ) excellent pasta , well sourced ingredients and friendly staff ,. the wine list is wide ranging italian with some reasonable wines that arent that expensive ( cannonau ) . it was better than i expected after reading some of the reviews here the calamari was the best i have had in london .
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shane
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 09, 2008

L'Anima, Italian for soul or so they tell you, well the food had it in spades from the daintily pickled veg to the herbacious and creamy Robiola cheese and jelly combo, BUT the space itself is a disaster. Apparently designed by the same chap who does Armani stores (but clearly without the budget - ungrouted walls of tiles in the bathrooms is unacceptable at this price point) it is a cold glass and stone box that has absorbed far too much of its city surroundings.

Rather than the decor being dictated by the food - as it should be, the hard modernity of the design overwhelms the genuinely special food. That said the portions are small (another contradiction, shouldn't authentic regional and rustic Italian food come in equally honest portions?) and the prices soon rack up. The staff (of whom there are too few) were attentive and warm to a fault but were clearly equally frustrated by the gap between aspiration and reality.

Highly recommended for the set lunch but avoid dinner unless money is plentiful
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lex - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Saturday, July 19, 2008

I took some clients one evening. We stayed in the Bar area which was very attractive,and had some upscale drinks and nibbles.However,along came this guy and 2 small kids who took over the 2 couches.The kids (under 5 yrs old) proceeded to run around screeching, wailing and generally misbehaving. Now I didn't think kids were allowed in a bar, and in a classy place that is aiming for upscale City types, this was frankly awful. I remarked to the staff who told me that the guy with the kids was the chef/owner, so I did not pursue as I did not want to embarrass a guy in front of his kids. But mate, you have to decide if you want to run a family trat where the kids run around and everyone shouts at each other as part of the "atmosphere" - in this case you should NOT locate the restaurant in the City, and you should not charge these prices. If you want a high-end restaurant,then keep your kids at home with the mamma, and don't bring them to play in the restaurant. Won't be going back!
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Went for lunch at this recently opened Italian. Our table for 4 was ready and we were warmly welcomed.The restaurant is modern and beautifully laid out. The wine list is very good with some excellent and difficult to find Italian wines. The menu is full of enticing dishes that you won't find elsewhere. A wide choice of breads made fresh on the prmises is offered as well as delicious huge olives.

We had the fish fritto misto as a starter-full of wonderfully fresh, lightly fried, different kinds of fish and zucchini sticks; crab and avocado deconstructed with sardinian wafers. For mains the tagliolini pasta with porcini mushrooms and shaved summer truffles was scarfed down. The risotto with zucchini flowers and sicilian shrimps met a similar fate. My beef tagliata served with the marrow bone and italian puree was outstanding.

The desserts were equally impressive - perfectly roasted yellow peach served whole and firm in a pomegranite and mint syrup; a rhubarb cake with home made lavender ice cream; a chocolate bomba; a caramel ice-cream served with a slightly liquorice tasting cream was heaven. Great espressos.

The staff was efficient, responsive and helpful. We had to be finished in 75 minutes and it all happened perfectly.
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C.Elder
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 20, 2008