VaBene

A fellow west end publican and I visited this restaurant yesterday for lunch.

The place was almost empty. We were asked if we were ready to order our food before we had time to even look at the menu.

We ordered a bottle of pinot grigio off the wine list ,the waiter came back after about 15 minutes and said they didnt have any pinot but recommended another wine,as we had never heard the name before we ordered another wine off the large wine list displayed on a blackboard,this wine was also unavailable.

My friend ordered the garlic chicken which was served with asparagus,as she does not like asparagus she asked for some other veg instead. The meal came with no veg.I had the lamb cutlets which were cold. We ordered a cheese board which consisted of two pieces of dry cheese and three biscuits

With two coffees and the wine of there choice the bill came to a ridiculous £89.72p which included 12.5% service charge,

The service was terrible, we had to keep asking for the wine to be returned,and as soon as we had our coffees ,the bill arrived.

We will not be sending any of our customers to this restaurant and we will not be going back.
Comment on this reader review

2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 07, 2010

Went here recently with a few friends and we were suitably disappointed at the overpriced food and wine and undersized portions. It wasn't too busy so we initially got served in good time buth for some reason there seemed to be an increasing amount of forgetfulness from the waiting staff as the meal went on....it took ages to get coffees served to us despite the place being practically empty (although they were very quick in taking our money which included the ridiculous 12.5% service charge).

The wine list, albeit extensive, is massively overpriced....a good way of making a profit if the food is good value but it wasn't so I can't work out how they can charge so much (oh sorry I forget, I'm in Soho-the tourist trap)

The food was very average. Papardelle (pasta was correctly cooked) with crayfish and a lamb jus (very odd combination which confused my fellow diner who is a chef) was not incredibly tasty and the portions were lame and all this for £13 which is a lot for some pasta and half a dozen pieces of crayfish and some sauce. The mixed green salad we asked for had enough salt on it to kill most slugs on the planet. So in that context at least we didn't find a live slug in our lettuce!

Ok, it's not a bad bad restaurant but you just expect pasta to be more reasonably priced whether it's in Soho or not. Perhaps we caught it on a bad day, perhaps I can't 'appreciate' the crayfish and lamb jus combination but perhaps they need to up their game a little bit to justify the prices or just lower their prices slightly (especially the wine) and serve average food.
Comment on this reader review

Rico - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Friday, September 17, 2010

We came across this fantastic place by accident on our first night of a weekend visiting london and were so impressed we went back for lunch before our flight back. The food was fantastic the service was great and staff were for the lack of a better word PERFECT in all areas. We got the impression it was a happy place for all!! staff and customers alike. I do not have a bad word to say about the place except for the fact it is not up here with me in Aberdeen..

I cannot rave about this place enough.. it pretty much made our trip and next time i'm in london I will be making a beeline straight there. or even may have to make a trip back again especially to visit Va Bene

keep it up guys and girls
Comment on this reader review

big eater - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Good start, bad ending. Went for dinner there before a show nearby.

The place was fairly empty so we were given a choice of seats upstairs. the waiter took our orders, and brought us some bread. before we could finish the bread our entre's turned up, a very nice brushetta.

My partner had just finished his, and i was halfway through mine when the waiter had come back with our mains. We were quite shocked, and i had to say no i would like to finish my entre first. The waiter then sat our meals on the counter and waited.

When i was done our mains came over. The lamb was good, but the lasagne was plain and overly cheesey. Middle of the mains, the female waiter came over and picked up the wine bottle (with a 3rd remaining).. we were quite annoyed we had to tell her yes we would actually like to finish it..

again my partner finished main before me and when i put my knife down to have a drink the waiter tried taking our plates away. same rushed experience for dessert. The mango sorbet was very nice though.

the whole meal it felt like they were pushing us to eat and get out, even though the restaurant was fairly empty.

My advice is that if you want a fast meal, there is a mcdonalds down the road for alot cheaper. If you want a relaxing meal, sadly we found this place not ideal.
Comment on this reader review

6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 07, 2010

Visited Va Bene today for first time in 10 years when it was caled Topo Gigio. The website requested me to request a menu by email. None was sent in the four days before our visit. The waitress on the phone advised us the lunch menu was available for £19 pp but at the restaurant, another waiter disputed this saying if was 50% off the a la carte. Though this was good, the waiter refused our discount saying we had had two courses not three. Embarrassed we paid up but were left feeling very disappointed our enquiry was not well received. Verdict Avoid. This place has changed in more ways than one
Comment on this reader review

Sam duggan
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Reading recent reveiws I wasnt sure if Topos would have retained the culinary magic and atmosphere that I remember from my visit last year. Trust me the magic lives on. Well worth a visit for good portions , frendly staff and above all fab food.
Comment on this reader review

sueha - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 12, 2009

I have been a customer of Topo Gigio from 1968, when Gino Bosi was there. I am a demanding Italian, as far as restaurants are concerned. Few days ago we went to the present (redecorated with gusto) Topo Gigio on the 24th of February 2009 with my 8 students of the Italian Conversation Class, from Bristol/Thornbury. Reception: very friendly from Giuseppe Bosi, son of the late Gino, and from some of the waiters still working there. The service: immaculate, somebody constantly coming to the table to check if all was right. The orders took the normal very acceptable time. Quality of the food: same as in the old days, excellent. Only thing changed was the appearance of the food in the dishes. From a "casalingo" aspect, it looked a bit more "raffinato" but the presentation and taste was extraordinarily good. The price is very reasonable for a restaurant in the centre of London.

In all, an excellent place, friendly, fine service and commendable food. I have booked to take my wife the day after tomorrow and will continue going forever.
Comment on this reader review

Franco Spallanzani
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, March 08, 2009

What a shock ! After several years absence we returned to Topo Gigio to see if it was as good as we always remebered it. Sadly, I wish I had read the recent reviews on this web site before I did this.

Having told our firends that they would experiece a great Italian meal, we were very dissapointed.

Long gone were the old menus and we were horifed by astronomic prices and minuscule portions.

The food iteself was OK, but there was so little to choose from, and there was so little of it on the plate when it arrived.

Also, there was no obvious sign of house wines on wine list, and had we not asked, the base Valpolicella started at £22 a bottle !

Never again I am afraid !
View/Add comments (1)

Mr N - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Sunday, February 22, 2009

i have walked past topos many times and asked a friend last week if we could eat there for my birthday, having arranged it i was disheartened to read reviews complaining of small portions and slow service, i am happy to report that we were all delighted with the food and charming service, we were made very welcome by the attentive staff and i had the boar / pasta for a starter which was delicious and a decent size (for a starter) for my main i had the chicken breast, my friend had the lamb, both very tasty and good sized portions, i have a big appetite but was too full for a dessert. i would recommend this lovely restaurant and would certainly go again. we visited on tuesday when there was an excellent 50 percent off deal
Comment on this reader review

peter
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, February 11, 2009