Cipriani London

Came here with a friend of mine neither of us were sure what to expect. On arrival we were greeted by the maitre d' who was so friendly and very welcoming and apologised that our table wouldn't be ready for 5 minutes. We went to bar which was very busy and we were served immediately. 5 minutes later we were seated at our table which had a great view of the whole restaurant. The restaurant was extremely busy and we were slightly concerned that maybe the service would not be great. However, the service was excellent. The staff were very friendly, extremely efficient and treated everyone the same, nothing was too much trouble. The food was good but it's probably best to stick to the pasta dishes and definitely have dessert. There is also a good selection of wine from the reasonably priced to very expensive.

The atmosphere was fantastic and it is a great place for people watching and I don't mean celebrities! We expected stuffy and snooty but got chilled and relaxed with a great buzz in the air!

Ignore the bad reviews and just go for the experience, it's worth it.
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Kelly Cronin
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Came here with 3 friends which had been hugely impressed by my invite. We were quickly shown to our table which we were very pleased with as we were in the centre of all the action. The head waiter was ever so helpful going through some of the dishes that we were not so familiar with, the service was one of the best I have ever experienced and when helping us to choose a bottle of red the waiter knew we didnt have hundreds to spend and suggested a quality bottle that didnt break the bank. The food was good, but for a £100 per head I am sure there is much better to be had.

The surroundings were lovely, and its great for people watching. A fantastic dining exerience which is relaxed and not too stuffy. If you have the money then do it, a night you wont forget the right or wrong reasons.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Monday, April 28, 2008

For a restaurant that everyone make so much hype about, I was quite disappointed with my evening there. Having arrived on time for our reservation, we then had to stand at the crowded doorway for 45 mins before we could be sat at a table.

Whilst waiting, we were eye up and down by 2 hags sitting at a table, obviously having consumed too much wine from the tiny sized glasses with nothing better to do than give people dirty looks.

The food was ok but the atmosphere was awful, the lighting way too bright and the tables and chairs very uncomfortable.

I'd go back for the dessert. Thats about it.
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Patsy
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Where to start?:

The food is unquestionably overpriced for the quality on offer. You can eat the same buffalo mozzarella at home, buying it from your local Tesco.

The staff is very rude but probably that dipends from the atmosphere that many times is created in the kitchen.

People say the chef is Italian....I'm sorry for italian people that are drawn to the restaurant by this.

It was my 25th wedding anniversay and they ruined this special day.
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Louise
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, March 20, 2008

The good, the bad and the ugly

The good: a fabulous room that few restaurants in London can match. The atmosphere even during a mid-week lunchtime was buzzing. No signs of the credit crunch here which is just as well given the prices. Admittedly the front is very noisy and tables are quite crammed but if you can get a table in the back then it is possible to enjoy a quieter atmosphere that lets you hold a conversation and you won't be quite so distracted by people watching - a definite bonus if you come here on a work lunch or dinner.

The bad: given the prices the food can at best be described as mediocre. Having followed the advice of an earlier reviewer I stuck to the simple dishes - Minestrone was good but not memorable and at £7 probably the cheapest dish on the menu. My main course of sausage papardelle (£17) was just about passable although really nothing more than a bit of tomato sauce with sausage meat and the pasta was definitely the wrong side of al dente. My companions food looked equally as uninspiring with the main courses consisting of large slabs of meat each with nothing else - T-Bone steak and Veal Milanese. Admittedly the latter must have been the largest veal escalope available in London on that day but without a hint of anything else it looked particularly unappetising and judging by how much was left over by the person who chose it clearly lacked something.

The ugly: having followed the earlier reviewer's suggestion on keeping it simple I also followed his/her second rule and let someone else pay - just as well..........

London is full of great Italian restaurants and this isn't one of them and if you are really desperate I reckon for the price of a meal here you can fly to Rome with easy Jet and enjoy the real thing and still have change left over for a drink at the airport.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A - why would anyone order chicken curry anywhere!

B - why would anyone order chicken curry in an Italian restaurant and dare to have high expectations?

If people would leave their insecurities outside the door and try to enjoy the place as a package - they woudl have a much better time...

I just finished my leftover spachetti in tomato sauce side order which I took home with me last night and it was fantastic..

Also hasn't anyone noticed how fantastically fresh the fish is here.

There must be a reason why this place remains polular!!!

Rich and famous people have many choices for where they choose to spend their money on dinner and being practical it's not as if most of the celebs people have seen dining here are likely to be on celebrity big brother any time soon...

So find the reason for the popularity and I am sure you will enjoy every minute....

To be fair though I have never paid or even seen a bill or looked at the prices when I have been here - lucky me!!!
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Lucille
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 10
Sunday, February 03, 2008

The atmosphere is loud sometimes the environment can be uncomfortable. The waiters are very good, and friendly. A place to go for INFORMAL occasions only. The food is not great in fact i found it horrible, however the wines choice is good. Personaly i am not going there again.
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Alexander
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Sunday, January 20, 2008

This is the most ridiculously over rated restaurant I have been to in 15 years. The food was decidedly average at best and for the price was a complete rip off. I defy anyone to call this a worthwhile dining experience. If you want to gaze at stars and celebs eating that is your look out but it won't be long before A listers are not seen here as a result of the poor food and plethora of 'suits' in attendance.

There are so many restaurants nearby that offer better food and experience at much lower prices.

I can do without the moody waiter who clearly had a pressing engagement elsewhere that he felt obliged to serve us at the same speed you might expect in a greasy spoon.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Thursday, January 10, 2008

I went for lunch this week and it was a fun experience. Experience being the word - this is unlike any other London restaurant I can think of. Old style glamour, traditional white table cloths, showy waiters in white jackets and bow ties, belini cocktails and prices to make you gasp. For a Christmas lunch it was great fun. Tasty food (crab salad, sausage pasta which was delicious, coffee and vanilla cream dessert), great people watching - It's December but there were easily 5 people wearing sunglasses!! and I though the service was friendly and attentive.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, December 20, 2007

I was there with some friends yesterday. Not sure about the stories of the rudeness of staff (depends on how much you tip them upfront) but the chairs and tables are ridicilously uncomfortable and wine glasses are tiny!

The food was mediocre to say the least but the atmosphere and wine were great!
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F. Huseynli
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Thursday, November 29, 2007