Como Lario

I spent most of yesterday trying to figure out how I could write to a Swedish friend of mine who bought my wife and I dinner in Como Lario the night before last, and thank him when I should have apologised for suggesting we ever went . I know Italian restaurants are armed to the teeth with efficient waiters who swarm the floors charming the customers and dusting the tables while dishing out food and then gallantly presenting coats to departing diners but here there was a distinct air of snottiness here. It was as if each of them was in such a bait it was a competition to see who could get even grumpier. Not so in many neighbouring Italian establishments. The food...well, standards need to be addressed immediately. Flabby mozzarella on wasted aubergine sandwiching a minute effort of parma ham looked like it might have been made the day before, removed from the fridge and warmed slowly - tasted as one might expect having been tortured like that. Then fegato alla salvia. Now really you oughtn't cock this one up and yet it.... Too thin, not enough butter and the sage? Well, the lack of it really. Vegetables at an extra cost are a bore but can be expected in Chelsea/Belgravia I suppose. They should, however, live up to their grandeur of deserving their own place on the menu, so flobby beans, watery spinach and mashed potatoes that tasted a bit like He Who Mashed [an important job in a commercial kitchen] had either used margerine or that revolting stuff called Swirl [look it up...think school canteens] instead of lots of butter and milk. Just a bit disappointing when it actually should be a doddle for a place like that to come up trumps. Now I will attend to the leter to my friend in Stockholm. One last thing: the wine was good, thank Bacchus.
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Bertie Thewes
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Thursday, September 20, 2007

Travelling on business, I ate here about a year ago and haven't been able to get it off my mind since. The staff went the extra mile to seat a single person on a busy night full with reservations and plenty of better walk-in potential than a single person like me. The aroma from the street had drawn me in and I begged to stay. I wasn't disappointed and I look forward to returning, finally, next week!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, July 21, 2007

This is the perfect Italian restaurant. Not to "VIP" but still cool and loud enough to create a fantastic evening. I go there since 1997 and the quality of the food always been excellent Vs. Price. "Team" is really friendly; if you go often they will remember you and they will treat you as a king. Often happens to see some Italian groups that are having fun, drinking, eating, limoncello, tiramisu, making jokes.. may be they are a bit loud, but that’s how the restaurant works. ENJOY!!
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A customer that love to eat..
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 04, 2006

The food was great. The service was a bit brash but the worst thing about this restaurant was the smoking - go here if you want to wake up feeling like you have smoked a packet of cigarettes the night before.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Monday, September 04, 2006

I love this place. There are probably too many Italian restaurants in Chelsea but I'd be sad to see this one go-not that there's any chance of that. The food is absolutely delicious with a good variety of specials. Only one big criticism-The tables by the wall are too closely packed together and people can easily be put off by smokers (I am one). You need a round table here.
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jimmy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Very nice italian restaurant.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 06, 2006

Excellent food, lively atmosphere, attentive service. Staff are friendly and nice, not overwhelming. Everything about food and drinks is great.

The place is a little loud at times, but never too much: the noise is part of its character, and for some reason it's never disturbing.

Excellent restaurant overall, and good value for money.
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Torquemada - View all reviews by this user
Tuesday, October 11, 2005

You just feel home!

Great italian food, great service, quite loud atmosphere some times but really worth going. Local restaurant, not to big but not to small.. If in a group is just loud enough or if in two cosy enouth!

enjoy!
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Friday, August 05, 2005