La Barca

It's important to say from the outset, this restaurant is not cheap. However the food and service are first class. I was a guest, so I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I'd go back for a birthday or wedding anniversary -if I was very well off, I might even go regularly.

I've been twice, so it's not a one-off impression. Ultimately you get what you pay for and this restaurant is a serious cut above the average.
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Paul
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

i have eaten irregularly at la barca for almost 10 years .As i was in the area i ate there again last night having recently read some disparaging reviews on this website. I was extremely impressed with the restaurant and couldn't believe why i had waited so long to return . The service was friendly and our waiter even told us a joke ! The proprietors were warm and welcoming advising us on the dishes of the day and recommended wines . I started with the pate which I think was the best I had tasted for a long time . My guest had some soup , we sampled a trio of pasta which melted in the mouth followed by a well cooked rissotto for my guest whilst i indulged in smoked haddock with saffron mash and a poached egg in a delightful sauce. With fresh berries for my guest and home-made pistacchio ice cream for myself followed by coffee and grappa my guest and i departed happy with the feeling that we had experienced a quality of cuisine rarely found outside of the best restaurants in Italy . Even the prices surprised us for their value . A meal that will be remembered for some time .
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andrew
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

not too long ago i visited La Barca with my partner, for starters i had a lovely soup of the day which had fresh courgette, my partner had gambarette picante which were cocktail prawns with spice... my partner loves his spicy food so this choice was perfect for him.For the main course we had spaghetti a la barca and spaghetti lobster which were both sensational, the combination of all the fish gave the pasta an amazing taste...really enjoyed my food at la barca it was a shame we were let down by the poor service and the extremely high prices...i would definitely recommend it for the amazing italian cuisine but not for the prices...
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Jane Ashworth
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Don't usually venture in that area but thought why not, as outside it looked nice. The prices are just way too over the top the place next door was packed and you could clearly see why as the prices are jaw dropping.

There were no atmosphere for a Saturday night only (5 people) us and another family.

I had a lovely mussels in tomato sauce which actually was exquisite and the wine was nice thanks to a friend who knows his wine. Not a place I'd visit again as value for money is not worth it.
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Andrew
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 07, 2008

Mediocre, overpriced food , unwelcoming atmosphere and appalling service.

I took my family for dinner at La Barca last night and I was embarrassed by the experience.

The service was surly and silent. Any requests were met with a sneer. Cutlery and dishes were thrown down on the table and there was not a word spoken by the waiters, not please, thank you, bon appetit or enquiry about the meal. It was really quite odd, as if we weren't particularly welcome.

When we explained that we did not wish to include the 12.5% discretionary service charge (not something I have done before, I might add), the waiter asked what the problem had been. We explained that the service had been terrible and gave him examples and we were met with a backlash of abuse and a dramatic scribbling out of the service charge.

As for the food, the asparagus risotto was bland, tagliatelle carbonara adequate, as was the squid and certainly not meriting the prices. We echo the comments below regarding the half cannelloni/ lasagne dish.

I eat out all the time in London and I have never experienced such arrogant and poor service like it before and, having read the other reviews below, I also wonder whether La Barca's main trade consists of tourists and theatre-goers. Perhaps it doesn't expect diners to come back, which may explain, but not excuse, the attitude of the waiters.

There are plenty of good restaurants along the Cut or near Lower Marsh and I certainly will never be going back to La Barca.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, December 30, 2007

Have been going to Le Barca consistanly for 3 or 4 years and therefore we do know the owners and staff. Generally eating here is a very pleasant experience, (quality & service) so I was surprised to read the last few reviews. 5 business associates lunched there this week and, once again, it was still a very pleasent experience. But I really can understand what others are saying about the prices, average £10 for a starter and £20 for a main? A bit over the top I think. OK, 5 of us did drink 5 bottes of wine, but over £80 per head is what you would expect to pay at a Michelin starred place.
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Bruce
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Friday, December 21, 2007

The six of us agreed it was probably the poorest meal we've had in London in years. Very overpriced and poor quality cooking, inedible really. You would forgive it's old fashioned look and menu if the food made up for it, but it doesn't.
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Dan M
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Sunday, December 09, 2007

I just read Spencers review after going to the restaurant this week I had exactly the same experience, the spicy prawns I had couldnt have been more tasteless and less spicy and i also had the 1/2 lasange dish which was just as you described. NEVER AGAIN.
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Charlene
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 10, 2007

Possibly the most over-priced restaurant in London??

Tacked onto the end of Lower Marsh street market, it's easy to get lured in by the 'cheep and cheerful' look of the exterior. Once thrust into your tables, you are presented with a menu that makes your jaw drop. Not from the diversity of the choice, but the sheer cheek of the prices.

House wine £14.50. Next option Valpoli at £20.50. Then an extensive range of other wines from £20.50 to £650. A bit too awkward at that stage to get up and move somewhere else.

The restaurant obviously trades on tourists (calculating in dollars) who have stumbled out of the Old Vic, or visiting Hollywood actors, flirting with the London stage, who still have more money than sense.

The most basic '1/2 Lasagne - 1/2 Cannelloni' was awful. The two pastas were indistinguishable one from the other and baked to a crisp. It needed a saw knife to separate the gunk from the dish) Astonishingly, £5.50 service and a £3.20 cover charge (what?!?!) were added to the bill.

At least you can amuse yourself by trying to recognise the obscure celebrities in the faded signed photos. I think I spotted a twenty-year-old Cliff Richard. I assume he hasn't been back since.

If you're going to charge Gordon Ramsay prices you expect something in return. I bet Gordon would have had a few F-words to say about the cuisine.

A lazy establishment trading on gullible tourists. Give it a miss.
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Spencer
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Having lived in the area for some years, i was starting to feel a bit guilty that I hadn't tried this restaurant. I also fancied some simple, basic Italian food. So, I went last night with my girlfriend and it was pretty nice.

The starters were fresh and well cooked/prepared and the ingredients good quality. The mains again were good, my girlfriend's vongole was really beautifully balanced and the pasta was perfect. My steak was tasty, clearly nicely hung and cooked perfectly for rare. Only had one dessert, which was tiramisu, beautifully light.

The wine, a Chianti CLassico was good, much smoother than your average Chianti.

My one gripe was the price, although the food was good, the cost was a good few quid dearer than you'd expect to pay in similar places. £19 for medallions of steak is overpriced, especially when you have to get side orders on top. £110 for 5 dishes and a bottle of wine is pretty steep for such a restaurant. The service is friendly, knowledgeable and informal though, which was a bonus.

Overall a good experience but i won't return until the prices come down, not because it was prohibitively priced but because places like Ciao Bella in Lambs Conduit Street do it just as well for 2/3rds of the price.
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vestan - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Sunday, February 18, 2007