Manicomio

We ate here on a wednesday a couple of weeks ago and i have to say that the food was the most amazing i have eaten anywhere.

We were seated quickly by a waitress who was slightly distracted by a larger party already in the restaurant.

I ordered the linguine with clams. Within minutes the head waiter came over to tell me that they had just served the last of the clams. I changed my order to linguine with tiger prawns. Not only was it beautifully presented but it was outstanding. The flavours blened together and there were alot of prawns. Rare in high priced restaurants!!

My dessert was given free of charge to make up for not being able to give me my original choice of main course.

The head waiter was a delight and i would definately go back.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, August 02, 2008

Went to Manicomio for dinner last Friday. We had the most delicious dinner, sitting outside under the canopy. my linguine with mussels was excellent, on par with the same pasta I have eaten in Italy. My wife had tortelloni with ricotta spinach in butter and sage, dead simple and outstanding!

my main course of roasted halibut was beautifully cooked and my wife's lamb was sweet and succulent. Puds were fab! We did not experience a silver service, but this is not the sort of restaurant that dictates this. It feels like a club and very informal. I did not find it cheap, but name any very mediocre restaurant in London which is not the same price. i will definitely be going back!
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Andrew
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, July 09, 2008

We decided to eat here on a beautiful saturday. The appeal was sitting outside. This was as far as it went. The most overpriced meal I have had since moving to London and the most disappointing. What little pasta I had was completely tasteless. I only had a soft drink to accompany it, however my glass was so over-filled with ice that I hardly had anything to drink at all. Even the gnocci was about half the size it normally is and even less interesting. The service was basic at best. They will get away with this because of the great position they have off the Kings Road. Overall, it came very close to ruining a beautiful day in London - something I'm sure most people would be unhappy with.
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Katherine
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

We visited Manicomio a few years ago and found it quite pleasant but not outstanding; we went again last night, and that will be the last time. Our starters arrived ONE HOUR after we sat down, and were well overpriced - a few salad leaves and broad beans, plus a stone-cold poached egg and invisible pecorino cheese, are not worth £9.50. Calves' liver for a main course came in long, thick chunks and was tough and completely tasteless, and again overpriced. In fact I doubt it was calves' liver; more likely a very old pig. Altogether very expensive, very average-to-bad food, and appalling service.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Friday, May 23, 2008

We had an appalling experience here. I appreciate that on a sunny saturday afternoon, establishments like this are going to be busy, but there can be no justifiable excuse for the bad service that we experienced.

The service was bad because

1) we were allocated a table and then after waiting, told to move

2) the waitress took 15 minutes to take our order

3) the tea/coffee/cake took 25 minutes to bring out

4) it took 20 minutes to get our bill!

5) it took another 15 minutes to pay our bill.

All in all, what was meant to be an express pit-stop to fuel up on a shopping excursion dragged on for the best part of an hour and a half. This was the first time that I have ever, ever asked for a service charge to be removed from my bill.

What was for us an entrapment looked for other diners to be even more excrutiating: one couple on a clear first date had their afternoon ruined by bickering with the waitress about waiting times, an order cancellation and then awkwardly leaving.

All in all, just a waste of time.
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Rebecca, EC2
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Monday, October 22, 2007

We came here for an evening meal. Service was pleasant (although the starters took a while to arrive) and the food was delicious. Particularly recommend the carpaccio of beef. Would agree with the prices being high, but the food was of an excellent standard.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Service over lunch was dreadful. We waited an hour for them to bring two small expensive portions of pasta and two side salads. Two inquiries about where our food was led to a free glass of wine - not really wanted at lunchtime and an apology from a waiter but not from the manageress. Bread was added to the bill but not provided. Optional service I made them remove. Perhaps the flower show and the sun brought out the worst in the place but I will not be returning.
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Adam
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, May 24, 2007

The main problem with this place is the outrageous prices. Pasta, even the bestest, freshest pasta, is simply not a very expensive ingredient and charging upwards of £14 for a main course so composed is not on. Yes, the location, yes it is all very pretty and yes Italian restaurants in London are mostly rip-offs so par for the course, but even so.

That said, the food is pretty good. Not top-notch - but I have not been disappointed. The staff have always been good, in my experience. Other reviewers have clearly not been so lucky. But those prices cannot be justified. I would recommend (and not just here either) all customers simply deduct the service charge from the bill as you are wholly entitled to do. This money just goes straight to management anyway as extra profit. Give your waiter/ess a cash tip if you want. If everyone did this, in every restaurant, then maybe they would learn.
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mike
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Had lunch at this restaurant on Easter Saturday. The sun was shining and sitting outside was a delight. We found the food absolutely delicious - one of the best meals we had tasted for ages. The staff were attentive and helpful, but I have to agree with most of the other reviewers that the prices are way too high. For two 2-course lunches and a bottle of wine the price was £124. Make up your own mind!
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Moir Ferguson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Went there midweek, the restaurant was practically empty. Was talked into a disgustingly dry plate of duck ravioli by the waiter (obviously trying to get rid of it). The starter was three wafer thin slices of aubergine smeared with cheese and rolled into batons served with a lump of rocket. It was a total rip off, £96 for two starters, 2 main courses and some foccacia bread. We drank a bottle of wine 2 large fizzy waters and a port. Scandalously expensive for an otherwise unmemorable meal.
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Anne
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 02, 2007