Ristorante Topo Gigio

I first visited Topos over 25 years ago on my annual visit to The Smithfield show. I would think I have been once a year every year since, now with my wife & 2 children.

I booked for last weekend before realising that it had changed & had not read the reviews.We had olives as a starter, a main course each, puddings ( to die for!) & a bottle of wine for £88. The food was excellent (small portions yes but I prefer quality to quantity). The old menu was OK but very 70's ish.

We are looking forward to next years trip to London where a visit to the excellent Topos will be first on the list
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Nick Pickard - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 30, 2008

My husband and his family have been visiting Topo's since he was a child. Unfortunately, in the last few months, the restaurant has undergone a complete change. The menu has been drastically reduced and prices increased almost ten fold. Sad as it is, we won't be visiting any more. Topo's minestrone was the talk of the town, as was their Chicken stuffed with ham and cheese. Neither were on the menu!!! It is so sad to see such a fantastic restaurant change so much.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 23, 2008

I visited the restaurant for the first time last week. The food was really good but the portions were insanely small! My husband ordered a 'large' risotto and there were literally a few spoonfuls of it, I think I had about 4 ravioli on my plate.... a little surprising for mains priced at over £10. I shudder to think what the starter portions would have looked like...
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Estelle
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, October 16, 2008

Two of us eat at Topo Gigio 10th Oct. We were exactly on time and went straight to our table, it would have been quieter on the steet level where there is a pre meal drinks area. The downstairs restaurant was full and there was a very noisy table near us. Noise is a hazard at any restaurant but here the noise seemed somehow more intrusive. Apart from the noise the overall experience was also let down by service which was very slow with a monor inaccuracy - we were offered a side dish we hadn't ordered; at the end we found our own coats and left with apparent indifference from the staff.

Food was the best part of the experience and by itself would have been (just) good value for money - the "just" quaification because the menu is limited. My wife had monk fish which was a small portion, my lamb shank was fine. The bill with for starter and mains with a £23 very good red wine and 12.5% service charge came to £100.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Sunday, October 12, 2008

We again went to Topos last night - Monday 6 October 2008. The upstairs bar was at last open, staffed by a very efficient young lady. Just the place to sit and have a drink whilst waiting for friends to arrive.......then we went downstairs. The place is almost fully refurbished, I expect a few more touches need to be added. However, the limited 'whilst the builders are in' menu has now gone to be replaced by a much more up-to-date version. Our party of four had a wonderful evening - the olive bread and olive oil dip at the start was just right.

Not the cheapest in town anymore but still well worth a visit.
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Aidan Thorne
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

We did a reservation at the Topo Gigio Restaurant in Brewer Street Soho. We have frequented this restaurant for more than 20 years, we have recommended this restaurant to people all over the world, as I have been working with international relations, I´ve told colleagues world wide , if you would like to have a really good meal, go to Topo Gigio, excellent food, exellent service.

This time, the food was good, the service did not exist. Having our four chlldren with us for the first time in London, talking about this lovely Italian restaurant, the experience on Friday evening was a big, big, big disapointment. I went out and cried.

We will never go back and we will never recommend this Italian restaurant, no more.
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Christer Anmark Sweden
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, September 28, 2008

I have been going to Topo Gigio since 1970 - in the days when it was in Gt Windmill Street (now the Trocadero site). The food and the service were just addictive - the move to Brewer Street took some of the the old atmosphere away, but the staff and quality of food and service remained the same.

My wife and I always eat there when in London, so imagine the shock a couple of months ago when we went and found the restaurant under refurbishment and...worse still, the old menu had gone, to be replaced with something altogether 'more modern'. Undaunted, we stayed, went on to enjoy the meal, and in chatting with the owner (he was just a lad in 1970) he explained what was happening. The old menu and style was not sustainable. He was very worried about losing his loyal older customers and did everything he could to make our visit welcoming.

We went away and gave it some thought. The food was great - even if the menu was reduced. The atmosphere was wanting - but only because the builders had partitioned off certain areas.

So, two weeks ago, we decided to go back - in force...with a party of five. The builders had not finished so the pre-meal drink upstairs was still not an option but the evening buzzed. The place was quite full (another waiter would have helped) but, I think it is going to work and we will go back again.

One piece of advice to the owner - in the old days, it was always possible to be squeezed in somewhere. I am not so sure that people out for a romantic evening like being 'tagged on' the end of a long table full of 'happy eaters' - especially now the price and style has become more individual.

But, be brave, give it a go and give Topo's a chance. The mouse sign may have been removed from outside, but I have too many happy memories of the place to let an old friend down.
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Aidan Thorne
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

We had a wonderful evening at Topo Gigio, the food and wine was excellent, would definately go again and would highly recommend this ristorante to all. We booked online and received 50% off the food bill which made the evening even more enjoyable
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David Williams
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 20, 2008

Topo Gigio started life in Great Windmill Street back in the 1960s, and I was a regular there before and after it moved to Brewer Street. The food was great, with a basic choice of pasta, fish, beef, veal, or chicken, with an excellent selection of vegetables. Always happy with the house wine, I loved going to “Topo’s”. It was fun: the waiters were slick, professional, and cheerful. Whenever we ate anywhere else I’d say, “it was OK, but I wish we’d gone to Topo Gigio”.

As a publishers editor with considerable purchasing power, I was entertained there – my choice – once or twice a week by printers’ representatives between 1969 and 1976. I lunched my father there one Christmas, and at the next table were four printers’ reps entertaining EACH OTHER, such was the popularity of the place! I was able to eat there less frequently after moving to live and work outside London, but I took a family group there one evening in September last year, and we had a wonderful time.

A fortnight ago I had a surprise. The menu has changed: it’s now rather chichi Nouvelle Cuisine with miniscule helpings and a very limited choice. “Can’t I have whitebait?” I cried. “Only if you have it off the bone, sir”, responded my favourite waiter with a twinkle in his eye. Oh, well. My swordfish steak was delicious, but cost £19.50, and couldn’t have weighed a dram over three ounces. My wife, daughter, and prospective son-in-law seemed delighted with their choices, though perhaps a little critical of the Bardolino (I drank beer). But I had the feeling that the end of an era had been reached – like when a new landlord changes the name of your favourite pub.

I had a word with the owner on the way out. Said I remembered his late father from way back. He told me that a grand refurbishment is under way, and that the menu will be extended when they’re fully up and running again next month. But, with a heavy heart, I have to say that I’m not sure I shall be going again.
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pmtw - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 18, 2008

went with my girlfriend for the first time, even if the restaurant wasnt too busy the atmosphere was great and make me feel just like i was in italy.

Very polite and professional service togheter with good and genuine food wiil defenitly make me go back in future. Well done!
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fabio
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, August 11, 2008