Aglio E Olio

I eat here at least 4 times a month and it’s simply the best Italian in Chelsea and overall one of the best pound for pound restaurants in London. The staff are hard working and really nice once you get to know them, however a lot of the people who go there are of the “entitled or look at me” type and therefore the staff have had to develop thick skins…

It is a busy fun place to eat and if people want to complain about having to wait 10 mins for a table or are “worried” that the manager maybe curt then please don’t go there, it’s not like you have to.

Overall the food is just want you want, great starters to share of salad etc, mains that change regularly and arguably the best tiramisu this side of Italy.
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Angus
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Totally agree with the negative reviews -- yes, the food's good, and well priced, but the staff in general and the manager in particular don't know the first thing about politeness, are incredibly rude and basically couldn't care less if you never set foot there again. I think their business plan is that it's such a small restaurant, and with decent food, that they can happily lose customers and still fill their few tables and turn a profit.

It's a shame, because the chefs seem to know what they're doing -- but to be treated with such lack of care and disrespect made sure I'll never go there again.#

Think of it as the equivalent eating experience to the travel experience you get at Terminal 5 the week it opened... that's about how pleasant it is, regardless of whether or not you eventually get your food...

AVOID like the plague...
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Ray Parsons
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Surly service and average food. The rudeness was very surprising, even for a hardened Londoner! The manager needs to learn some manners and general etiquette - I won't be returning.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 25, 2008

I've been here loads and the place is good, especially the food (some of the best italian you can get for the money) - but the floor staff can be surly and innattentive which spoils it somewhat. It's also true that they are disorganised about the covers - sometimes they mess it up and you have to wait.

I love how the reviews have become a bit of a holy war - just cos you eat somewhere doen't mean you have a spirtual stake in it! Lets be realistic - it's a £20 a head italian with great food and (probably underpaid) staff who buckle a bit when it gets busy.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

I suspect Peter Fox-Jones' review is a ruse to get people to stay away from his favourite restaurant. I would happily live there! It's like going to Italy without having to fly.
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Nick Horley
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 06, 2007

I feel I need to write a short review as this Restaurant is our favourite Restaurant in London. Four of us "attended" tonight and we had to wait almost one hour to get our orders taken. We normally are looked after so well but somehow it did not happen tonight ,which was disappointing as we had two guests from Spain and wanted to show off a little.

We have never experienced a service that was one of almost "could not care less" and bearing in mind we love the place and the management and staff, it was unbelieveably disappointing.

When the food eventually arrived it was, as always superb. So A++ for that. I appreciate that the staff cannpt always be also A++ but however busy one would hope that the service would be up to our normal level.

I would add that Renata was not working which may be the reason for the lack of attention. She is a dream and so is Adriano when he is not too busy. However, the other staff were also great but somehow something was lacking

Love it all ............. But I hope the Staff read and listen to this note. Please do not forget your regular customers are also important and do not think we are too picky.
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David & Georgette
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

This is me and my fiencee's favourite restaurant - the food is always fantastic, service is great and the staff are brilliant - It is a very busy restaurant so make sure you're not starved when going there and do expect a wait by the bar but it is soo worth it..This is truly one of London's best gems!!
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Missy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 07, 2007

Excellent restaurant + friendly helpful staff (Adriano – Manager and Renata – head waitress are super efficient and sweet and people need to understand that they are under lots of pressure as this place is crazy busy )

I have been going there for 7 years now and it never failed to impress! Pasta dishes are superb .. all of them !!! Mr Peter Fox – Jones should not expect special service from a cheap and cheerful little local Italian. He should understand that he needs to pay a bit more then £60 for two for that !!!

In any case, Aglio e Olio rocks , I love it

Top marks

Nina
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Nina
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 28, 2007

I recently tried this restaurant for the first time, trailing in the wake of a friend who had eaten there regularly before. It was a quick meal but my dish (rigatone, broad beans and pancetta) was so excellent that I am still having flashbacks of it a week later. The service managed to be both attentive and relaxed. Thoroughly recommended.
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Mark Aeron-Thomas
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I have reviewed Aglio e Olio on this site on a previous occasion but, having read the strongly negative review below, I have decided to leap to the defence of my favourite restaurant…

I have eaten at fancy London restaurants such as The Square, Petrus, Hakkasan etc but I still prefer the food at Aglio e Olio. This restaurant suits people who enjoy the busy atmosphere of taverna style dining – don’t come here for a quiet dinner.

When I visited Aglio e Olio last week it was full so we had to wait for a table. However, I do not think this is linked to the competence of the mananagement. In my opinion, the problem with this restaurant is its extremely small, narrow premises. The restaurant has become so popular that it has outgrown it’s site – they could do with knocking into Bardo Bar next door and creating a larger restaurant. With so many people waiting at the bar for tables, it can be a real obstacle course for the waitresses to steer through them when they are serving.

I totally disagree with Peter Fox-Jones’s comments about the management. The lovely Albanian manager has worked at Aglio e Olio for years and I have always found him highly competent, organised and helpful. He holds the whole show together and Aglio e Olio would not be the same without him. For example, last week he gave me and my companion some free shots of lemon liquor at the end of our meal.

My recent visit to Aglio e Olio also reminded me just how good the food is. My usual rigatoni with broad beans and pancetta was excellent. So, Peter Fox-Jones this leaves the question as to why the manager apparently swore at you – maybe he just didn’t like you!
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Victoria Leather
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 04, 2007