Zippi

The service was friendly. The pizza was nice. But then came the bill and I whipped out my card. 'Sorry, no cards - there is a cash machine around the corner'. Unusual for London in the year 2007 I think. Me and my friend walk out to go get some cash. 'No, no , you wait here' is the rude instruction to my friend. OK. On my way out I look to see if I can see any notice or sign to the effect outside. I see a small sign on the window: 'We accept cash, cheques and euro's'. I walked back in asking if I can write a cheque. 'No, Cash ONLY!' He was adement. OK. I walk back outside to the cash machine. At this point I decide to check my bill. I see that they added 12.5% service charge for lunch for 2 (defenitely not labour intensive!) and they charge 3.50 per soft drink! (a menu with drinks prices were never presented, therefor I could not despute the price of the soft drinks. As someone living in London I just know that this is exploitation. When I get back with the cash I am well fumed and I ask to see the manager. I am the manager the waiter who served us proclaims. 'Why did you not tell me before I sat down that you do not take cards?' I ask. ' We don't have to tell you we take cards or we don't it is our choice' the 'manager' proclaims rudely with an accent. What an unpleasant end to an otherwise lovely afternoon. These people obviously exploit tourists. Be warned!!
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Dédre
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Friday, April 27, 2007

Decorations attracted us at first. Went in; were sent to table in corner. No smiles and unfriendly-looking owner staring at us (perhaps unamused by our "not-to-her-standards" clothes.

We wait 10 minutes for someone to come our way to give us a menu at least. Enough time to observe the amount of dust on the decorative frame next to us (hate to think what the artificial flower and ceiling curtains bear). Man! This is a place where you sit to be served food and enjoy.

So we ask (my wife and I only at table) if we could move to nearby (far from dust) table (one among numerous free ones still). Very reluctantly the waiter goes to check with his boss (the unfriendly-face woman). She looks our way all the time he's asking her and nods a big "NO" with her head. The guy comes back with his apologies (no good reason to go with though). We accept the apolgies and walk out of their right away. We prefer to give money and business to friendlier, cleaner, and worthier places. Good luck.
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ayman
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

A menu of pictures gives it away as a tourist trap, and with a location next to Trafalgar Square it surely should be. However they werent flooding in on a Monday lunchtime with perhaps three tables occupied. We used it for a business lunch/meeting venue and luckily the conversation and company distracted from the poor food. Risotto made with long grain rice!! Luke warm orange juice. Wine tasted corked. When the bill came they made some weak excuse about the line being busy and could we pay cash!! We insisted they try again and grudgingly they did and it worked.

Keep walking as many of the tourists did.
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Tim Smith
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 12, 2007

Dont eat here!!!

The restaurant itself looks nice, although completely catering to the tourist trade, given the picture menu, and disturbingly quiet just before Christmas. Regardless we went in and ordered our food and some tap water - at which the waiter raised his eyebrow to be told that we can’t order just tap water but have to order another drink too (never heard this before - not even in Michelin starred restaurants). The food came, which was ok. The waiter did insist on removing our plates as soon each of us had individually finished our food - very annoying.

The climax of the evening was an argument with another couple regarding paying by credit card. Yes there are signs outside to say credit cards are not accepted, but I did not see them, and speak and read perfect English having lived here all my life.

The way the "manager" spoke to these customers was disgusting, slapping the menu to where it said no credit card payments as if they were idiots. And saying out loud for everyone to hear "we don’t want credit cards, we want your hard cash." I'm sure this is a situation they often have to deal with - I would have thought they had rehearsed a polite answer, at least with one sorry for the inconvenience! They then attempted to throw the customers out of the restaurant at which point I had seen enough and left.

Needless to say - don't waste your time at this place!
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Vinia Nigrelli
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 21, 2006

Charged my card over $700 for a $60 bill. I am in dispute now! I will not recommend this place. They have no idea about italian food. Very dissapointed.
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Petras
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, August 14, 2006