Trattoria Mondello

We have been going to Mondellos for many years and every time we go we are made very welcome, the food, atmosphere and service is outstanding. We strongly recommend a visit.
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The Green Family - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 22, 2013

This is my first restaurant review, but I had such bad service here recently that I felt I MUST write one! YOU WILL BE SHOCKED!

I went here with a friend a few nights ago. We ordered a starter, which the male waiter just left on the table and stormed off - we had no knives, no napkins, and no pepper. We asked the lady (I presume a co-owner) for them, and she said the we should ask the waiter for these things! When we disputed this she then got us cutlery etc! Whilst eating it the main course arrived. We said to (this time female, younger) waitress that we've only just got the starter, and she looked confused, as if not understanding the problem. She said "Ok, I'll just leave it on the table"! We said that we didn't want it left on the table as it would get cold, and customarily people like to have a few minutes between courses. My friend asked for new dishes (not re-heated food). She begrudgingly took it away. Whilst I was still eating the grumpy owner came over and asked if we wanted our food, and aggressively asked us to let him know when we want it. we told him we were still eating! Then the original waiter came up and did a hand gesture that seemed to say "eat up"! We finished eating our starter, and waited, and waited....

We finally got the grumpy owner's attention, and politely informed him that now we had been waiting so very long for the food. He told us that we were supposed to tell him when we wanted it, then had a go at us, saying "it's your own fault. I threw away your food you didn't want, and now we have to make it from scratch"! We argued that it is reasonable to eat one's starter first. Anyway, about 1-2 minutes later the dishes arrived - so they were not being cooked from scratch! They had obviously been reheated, mine had the texture of it being left, and my friend's was burnt at the side. My friend told the woman (co-owner) who disputed it then started arguing. with my friend. It wasn't pretty! Then the grumpy owner started shouting at us and went to throw us out! He has no self control The woman pulled him off of us, obviously realising he had gone way beyond what is acceptable. If you are reading this (owners) you are lucky that we have seen the funny side and didn't want to pursue this further!
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, November 23, 2012

I have been going to Mondello's about once ever 1-2 months for about 12 years now and love it every single time. Maria and Fillipo are superb hosts and always make you feel welcome. The food is excellent - sure, it's "old style" Italian home cooking, but that's the kind of food that I like and it's familiar, delicious, and comforting.
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David Garner
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 21, 2012

The service was terrible - our waiter was like Inspector Cleuso. The other staff seemed OK.

Firstly he left the clingfilm hanging off the plate for the antipasti starter. Then he couldn't remember which of the 2 of us had ordered what dish for the cutlery. Next when clearing up, he tried to pick up the empty butter packet 3 times with the flat side of one of our dirty knives that he was taking away, before dropping it onto my girlfriends lap? Absolute joke!

When he brought over the bill, he had the cheek to request that WHEN we leave a tip could it be in cash, so that it went to him rather to the restaurant as is the case with card payments!!

Then to top it off, the bill had desserts included on it which we hadn't eaten! When we told him this he just muttered something about how rubbish the owners were who wrote up the bills and then proceeded to scribble all over it to work out the new one in his head.

I think there is a place for slightly eccentric, family run restaurants from yesteryear, but at London prices this level of lazy service and lack of good manners is not on, and such restauranteurs wonder why they are losing out to newer, less traditional chain restaurants? Seemed to be full of regulars made up of American tourists who probably like the "quirkiness".

From a business viewpoint, the staff member in question was not a inexperienced student doing some extra hours, but an experienced waiter who seemed to have been there for years, which is worrying!
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Jimmy
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Friday, September 28, 2012

We have been visiting Mondello for years and we always loved it! Maria, Filippo and Silvana always make us feel very welcome and every visit special! Try the house wine.........it is absolutely delicious! I can't wait to enjoy another lovely meal at Mondello in due course.....
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Daniel Arnold
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, April 27, 2012

Ever wondered what Italian school dinners taste like? I think my wife and I have found out! Try for yourself. Busy menu matched neither by what's actually available, or by quality. I went for stuffed aubergine and grilled bream but had to swiftly rethink as neither were available. Went for fish soup (mostly tomato and croutons), and grilled sea bass (dry, accompanied by uninspiring peas and diced carrots, and 3 small roast potatoes). Tiramisu for dessert devoid of coffee and alcohol. Wine rough - hmmm, I know most of us probably didn't get wine with our school dinner, or perhaps sea bass and tiramisu, but hopefully you get my drift. The place feels old and tired, and though one or two of the waiters were OK, the elderly owners could really do with retiring and handing over to someone with some new ideas. Yes, it's cheap, but good value it is not. There are far better restaurants - I (and my wife) would strongly recommend you walk by and find one, it'll not take you long.
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- View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, February 26, 2012

It's just a lovely restaurant. I lunched there for years when I was working in London (and at its sister restaurant, Zucchini, in Theobald's Road, which sadly no longer exists). I still eat there when I'm in town, especially with my children who are old enough to pay for me now! Maria is the best hostess in any Sicilian restaurant outside Sicily. My son took me there for lunch last Saturday, just to check that it's still the very special place it's always been. And it was. I recommend Mondello to all my friends. And some relatives.
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Peter White
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 17, 2011

We discovered Mondellos by accident about 10 years ago and have visited regularly ever since. Best restaurant in London by a million miles.
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John and Marion from Suffolk
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, October 01, 2011

Terrific place. Best place we ate in London. Owners are warm and it is like eating in your home with friends. Food was great and service was over the top.
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Joe Trefaller, Philadephia, Pa.
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, September 23, 2011

love the place, the food, the owners, old fashioned are all great. Hadn't been for 10 yrs was amazed at the warm welcome . I'm stunned at even booking a table last night the owner knows my voice ....has a way of charming you making you feel part of the family !!!!
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Janice Crane
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 14, 2011