Como Lario

We were a party of 6, having a quasi-business dinner. Just like many other reviews here, we were treated poorly. (We should have read this website BEFORE selecting this restaurant...). The wines arrived long after each course. We had to ask for the same items a number of times. We were not quiet about it and at the end of the meal we were offered to go to the downstairs bar and have a bottle of champagne on the house. We did not bite the bait (champagne after dinner?) and it turns out they just needed our space to shoe-in another dinner party.

Food quality has never been Como Lario's forte, since it is a 'family restaurant'. But once one is upset about the service suddenly the poor quality transpires everywhere: the seabass fillet was not boned properly and my tagliata was not a tagliata like you have in Italy but it was a normal sirloin steak cut in strips. I asked for rare and it came medium. The fried zucchini were soggy and i'd better stop here.

Apparently this place is full every night. I really wonder why.
Comment on this reader review

Tuono1
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Como Lario used to be my favorite restaurant so was excited about going back for dinner recently. Sadly was very disappointed. The service was not rude, but not professional either, lots of arms being thrust in front of the diners on my table. The food was fine, but nothing special. Given the high prices I would have expected more in the quality of the food.
Comment on this reader review

Gloria Smith
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I was surprised to see the negative reviews. My experience (twice so far) has been outstanding. Warm welcome, attentive service, and outstanding food and wine. Their grilled Monkfish is one of my favourite dishes in all of London!
Comment on this reader review

Jim
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 25, 2011

This is a terrific restaurant to enjoy....I would go all the way from Canada to dine here. Lovely outside....the view to the inside is picture perfect. The greeting and welcome extended is heart warming, The photos on the wall, the menu and wine list set you up for a very good meal. a good place for fun whether as a couple or a group.
Comment on this reader review

vernon mccreary
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, February 06, 2011

I recently went to this restaurant 14/12/10 for dinner with 3 friends, we had not booked, so enquired if they had a table available and were told they did, but it was downstairs, which was fine.

We were pleasantly surprised by the small, but dining room and bar. once we had settled in a bread basket was provided - three pieces of white bread and three pieces of very small brown bread which was not freshly cut and was therefore a little hard.

We ordered a bottle of water, a bottle of white and red wine - it has to be said that although there was a selection, the actual quality of the wine offered was not great.

As far as the atmosphere was concerned all we could hear was a intermittent voice over a loud walkie talkie, which made us feel like we were sat in a mini cab office!

The food ordered was all pretty average. Starter dishes ordered included Deep Fried Mozzarella - not fresh, Pasta with ragu - light on the ragu sauce, and the special smoked cheese, which was ok, but the tomatoes tasted like they had been around for a while.

The Main courses were not much better, Veal in a lemon sauce, which was vile, and a pasta in a tasteless tomato sauce. Side dishes of Spinach, Potatoes and Zucchini Fritte where pretty average.

Two desserts were ordered and tasted like they were not prepared or made on site. Tiramisu and a chocolate cake. Both any decent Italian chef would be ashamed to offer such horrors.

We asked for the bill, which genuinely took an age to come - we asked three times. Once we received it we complained about the above and were told that the bill was the bill, so no allowance would be made.

Clearly the owner of this restaurant rarely attends it, and never eats there. For reference, we dine at Ricardo's on the Fulham Rd, Scalini and Ziani al which vary in price but do offer a much better experience, which would not be difficult.

Our bill, without service was 190.00!

Not to recommended to your worst enemy and will never be visited by us again.
Comment on this reader review

sgreggy - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Went a few weeks ago. Having read earlier reviews I have to say the service was not rude or hostile but it did appear disinterested. The food was mediocre and the atmnosphere was dull. I wouldn't go back.
Comment on this reader review

Jack
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Dinner for four last night was all but spoiled by the service in Como Lario.

We had four different waiters - a smile was non existent. To try to lighten them up we tried a simple joke with them but was a no-no. Food banged on the table and when it came to dessert my companion took time to get out her glasses - so tough - no dessert for her. The restaurant soon became full and the international waiters were hurried and totally irritated that there should be people in the place.

The food however was excellent - small portions and I usually like that but I left the restaurant hungry after three courses.

Judging from the reviews I am not the only one to experience bad service but

I have to say the restaurant was very full of well heeled people on a Tuesday nights so they must be doing something right. .
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Major disappointment.

We stopped by this evening and were excited by the fact that the place was packed. However, service and food where overwhelmingly mediocre.

First, we sat down and found bread sticks and olives at our table. However, there was already an olive stone on the plate, as if someone had already been picking through the olives. Yuck!

We put that aside, and got to ordering. We started with the salmon carpaccio and shitaki sautee with bacon and percorino cheese. We also ordered a macaroni with rabbit ragu and a fettuccine with venison ragu as our mains.

The apps were served promptly, but were very tame taste wise. They were fine, just not out of the ordinary.

With regard to the pasta, we had to wait about 45 minutes to get it after the apps were done. And the long wait was not the worst part. To our dismay, the pasta was partially undercooked and hard in texture. It was impossible to eat. To make matters worse, both of the sauces were terribly bland and unappealing.

You'd think that by the size of the crowd the food would be amazing, or that they were giving away free hats or something. But, sadly, that was not the case on both counts.

I also want to add, aside from putting a 12% mandatory service charge on the check, this place also added a 1.50 pound per person "cover charge", and also charged us 2 pounds, per person, because we ordered the pasta as a main dish. Very lame - total price gouging.

In the end, we dropped 54 pounds for 2 meals I could have made ten times better with my eyes closed. I can't recommend this place at all.
Comment on this reader review

Richard Branigan
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I have just returned form lunch at Como Lario and I can honestly say that I have never been treated with such disdain and indifference in a restaurant in my life.

The food was good enough but all four waiters we had the misfortune to be served by were rude and discourteous from the minute I walked in. I was meant to be enjoying a post mother's day lunch with my mother-in-law and we did not enjoy it at all.

From the minute we arrived we were made to feel that they couldn't wait to get rid of us.

On top of the bad service we were given an extremely uncomfortable table where it was impossible to face one another, with a pillar more or less between us. To top it all the toilets were as bad as the service.

We did not complain at the time as we both felt completely intimidated by the staff and I simply didn't feel brave enough to.

I wouldn't recommend anyone to eat at Como Lario, they do not deserve the custom.
Comment on this reader review

Sue Gentilli
2 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, March 15, 2010

we ate at como lario on 28 Sept 2009 at a large family table. the special of lentil soup was excellent and fegato a la veneziana was quite good also. the place was totally full and the owner was very friendly, especially as we had a 3 year old with us. my only negative comment was the waiter - not Italian - was very flustered and unfriendly almost to the point of hostility. i would recommend this restaurant for a nice Italian meal.
Comment on this reader review

Louise Marbella - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Monday, October 05, 2009