Ciao Bella

I note that most of the reviews on here are from long standing "regulars".

I have been a few times but don't qualify as a regular. I know this because it is clear from the attitude of the staff that only the regulars seem to get decent service!

A small group of us went for lunch on a week day recently. Although it was quiet when we got in after about 20 minutes the place had filled up. It took 15 minutes to take our drinks order and the disgust was barely concealed by the waiter when we all opted for soft drinks. Then a total of £15 worth of "extras" were placed on the table without asking us or making it clear that they were to be charged for. You expect bread and a cover charge in most places but i think it's a cheek to dump 3 plates of old parmesan chunks on the table with a few plates of olives and breadsticks and then charge for the lot even though they are untouched!

The drinks took another 15 minutes to come and then we ordered our food after a total of 30 minutes. We then waited another 25 minutes for it to arrive despite making two enquiries as to the whereabouts of our lunch and explaining that we had to get back to the office. Nearly every table was served before us adding insult to injury.

I did notice that the tables receiving the better service were all middle aged business men who are presumably percieved as better tippers or maybe they are "regulars"!

I would say that the food was good although the consisently bad service that i have experienced there over the last few years doesn't make me want to go back. Incidentally i always tip at least 20% so waiters please don't judge someone because you think they look too young/poor etc to tip you!
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B Smith
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Have reviewed this place before and really can't praise it enough. I am in the restaurant business and it is one of the only places I keep going back to in London with friends and family. The place is always rammed even on the usual graveyard services of Monday and Tuesday - this is a testament to how good it is. Felice the owner is a legend and I admire his passion - I have never been there when he is not on the floor making his customers happy. The food is fresh, simple, authentic and delicious. The wine list has some real crackers on it and is excellent value. London needs more places like this where the customer is looked after and is not treated like an irritation. Keep up the good work!
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Nick Lambert
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

My wife and I have been visiting this restaurant on and off for the last 4 years. We live out of London and dont mind the journey into town as it has always been enjoyable eating here. Yes its always packed, yes its cramped, yes it is all a bit rushed................but who cares. The food is great the wine is good value and they are family friendly.

We have been at various times of the day on our own or with the children and they have always been accommodating and the service has always been good. The pianist is a nice touch and makes the place a bit more authentic- not that it needs it really!

We love going there to eat and will continue going for years to come. One bit of advice- BOOK and get them to read back your name and number-mistakes can happen.
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Tony and Emma Maxwell
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 05, 2008

Quaint little italian place tucked round the corner at conduit street (very close to russell square tube station) Reservations are recommendable indeed as this place gets quite crowded especially during the evenings. Though some of the ubiquitous waiters have become a little rusty over the years, they surely try and put their best foot forward. Nothing fancy and out of the ordinary about the decor, but there is a certain warmth about the experience that makes one want to come back again. Weekends might bring one to the rather pleasant notes of the pianist. As for the gastronomic paraphernalias, the portions are quite generous and the taste and appearance is good. The wine list is a sure plus point and the tiramisu is doused with alcohol (which some people actually like)
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Soovi
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 17, 2007

I have been coming to this restaurant for some years. It is always consistent in both food and service. A welcome is always made by Fellicio the owner and I have never been turned away no matter how busy. At the most busy times and with no booking...how many proprieters would buy you a drink in the pub next door then come and get you personally when a table is available?!

As from an Italian family, I have tried many restaurants around London. What I look for is a taste of home made traditional Italian food. This I have only found at Ciao Bella. I have yet to find another restaurant in London that has Fegato (calves liver) that is so tender. The likes of the swish upmarket restaurants in my opinion can not beat this place. As a rule, no matter the day, it is busy from lunch time to midnight. I think that speaks for itself. They welcome children and families as well as parties and It amazes me when they are packed out to the brim how they keep up such a standard.

If I had a critisism to make it would be that some of the staff that you can get used to seeing over the years have been replaced, and obviously it takes time as a regular customer to build up that rapport with again. However that is not to say the service ever falters.

I eat out often and get fed up with some of these high cost pretentious restaurants that lack everything except decor. Ciao Bella is not the most fantastically decorated place and as an Interior Designer I cringe at the amount of photo's on the wall... But then again I am there to eat and have a good time not examine the wallpaper!

It is in the heart of a big Italian community and I maintain that if Italian's can come and eat here with no complaint then I don't know what the negative comments here on this site are all about. The customers that know Ciao Bella and it's owner are a very loyal bunch and will remain so coming back for many years to come and will spread the word at what a fab time can be had by all.
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Delia Martini
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 08, 2007

I went to Ciao Bella with friends on Saturday evening having booked a table in advance. I found the service to be indifferent apart from one waiter who was jolly. The pianist provided entertainment- if you like tracks from musicals- in particular 'the sound of music'.The food was acceptable, but certainly not outstanding. Portions were large apart from the ravioli which there was not a lot of. Mediocre.
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Krista Giovane
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 12, 2007

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

It is a nice walk from Euston....with Covent Garden a few mins walk away ...I don't have to use a tube.

I love a place that despite gaps between visits always has a welcoming smile as if they see you every week. The food is consistently good, extremely well priced which allows spare cash to be thrown at the deliciously fantastic wine menu....and they even make sure you get a decent glass for it. Even the deserts do not let them down. The atmosphere can not be matched they always cope brilliantly at busy times, every party I have taken there has resulted in calls after saying what a brilliant place. The staff even on bad days always come up trumps. If anyone has ever worked in catering things do not always go to plan, but I have been enough now to say that the consistency in such a busy place is amazing. The squishing of people adds to the heaving european atmosphere, they actually do not mind sharing tables and touching each other. I have managed a quiet table in the corner for a romantic night as well tho!. Keep up the good work and see you all soon. CIAO..............CIAO.
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Angela
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 27, 2007

This restaurant is a real find, a genuine, local, family-run restuarant in London. We booked it blind because its one of the few restaurants which would take a booking for 12 and we had no idea what to expect. The staff were friendly and welcoming, (even when some of our party were late arriving) and the food was excellent and reasonably priced. If you're fed up with trendy bars and spotty teenage staff this is a restaurant that takes its food and customer service seriously. We'll definitely be back. The staff were great they made us feel imporant. Also the live pianist was a bonus and played happy birthday 4 times and each time the staff joined in.
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G Ward
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, October 19, 2007

I first saw the Ciao Bella when I went to a Christmas Street party in Lambs Conduit in 2005. Somehow the opportunity to eat there did not arise until a few weeks ago. I met up with a number of friends at Kings Cross with a few to having a meal before a theatre visit. We went to a pub we knew nearby and found their ‘food all day every day’ did not apply on Saturday. On to a restaurant one of the group knew to find it closed with no explanation as according to the opening times it should have been open. The random hours some places keep are very frustrating! After walking around for 30 minutes we found ourselves in Lambs Conduit. Ciao Bella was open and nearly empty (it was early), and we enquired if they had a table. Initially they seemed reluctant saying they were heavily booked but as by then we only wanted a main course and coffee (with a dessert for the ravenous) they found us a table. The service was fast and efficient but did not seem particularly friendly. Anyway the various glasses of wine, beers and mineral water quickly appeared. 15/20 minutes later the food was with us and we started to tuck. Mine tasted rather bland and I commented on this to a friend. It turned out moist of the group thought the same. Italian flavours are simple but the flavour should burst out! It was as if money was being saved on the ingredients. When we left they still seemed quiet. If the food had been really tasty and the service friendly rather than efficient I would have given them 10/10 in all categories. Reading the other reviews I am puzzled. Was the usual chef on holiday or was there another problem? I may go again to see. Ciao Bella seems so popular I double checked that I had the right place before writing this review.
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Davey
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Friday, October 12, 2007

I was hoping for great things tonight as the reviews for this place have been great. Sadly the night was a big dissapointment. The food was indeed good, but the service was terrible. Really bad. They got two of our seven mains wrong and didn't even apologise or tell us when the correct dishes would arrive. Our waiter stopped serving us halfway through the night and when we wanted water we had to go to the bar to collect it ourselves. When the correct mains did arrive, the rest had finished their meal and yet again, there was no apology for the mistake. To top it all, at the end of the night they had the gall to add the 10% tip to our bill. Needless to say, we asked them to remove it.

When you pay for a meal, you should get good food AND good service, getting just one of these two only leads to a bad night out. I would not go back.
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J Collins
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, October 09, 2007