Trattoria Mondello

I visited this charming little family-run restaurant on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of the Christmas Oxford St rush. It was a cosy, peaceful retreat away from the crowds and like stepping back in time. The staff couldn't have been more pleasant. My particularly fussy vegetarian niece was cooked her own pasta dish to order. Everything we ate was delicious and such amazing value! I am amazed at some of the bad things that have been said about this place, it's like they are talking about somewhere completely different! We felt like part of the family when we left. I would not hesitate to recommend this gem to anyone.
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Sam
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

I was introduced to Mondello by accident. It is like being in a little piece of southern Italy. I go there sometimes twice or three times a month. Yes, the service is idiosyncratic to say the least - the first time I went I had a bottle of wine poured over me - but they treat you like royalty if you are a regular. It is always full after about 7pm, so get your place at 6.30. The pasta is out of this world - the more simple, the better it is done, and the dessert trolley is wonderful. and all so cheap - in 2008 it is refreshing to find a family-owned place that does home cooking for such a good price.
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mibmob
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 21, 2008

As we work nearby, we come to this place for lunch about once a fortnight. They have a lunch menu for £5.50 which is quite reasonable. It is advertised at the front of the restaurant, but you need to ask for it when you sit down and order. Whenever we go there, there is a group of at least 6. Today we had 10 people.

The food is good, but unfortunately this will be the last time we are returning. We have put up with the owners rude comments and abrupt actions. But this time we have had enough. His wife is lovely though.

If you can put up with bad service, then this is a good place to go for lunch. It usually gets quite busy.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 15, 2007

My wife and I stumbled upon this wonderful little place. We had a great simple meal here (a pizza and a bottle of red wine). The service was decent and the prices excellent. The owner (an elderly Italian man) was so tickled that we enjoyed his restaurant that he insisted that we see his picture of Mick Jagger, who reportedly liked the restaurant also. Then the owner insisted that we have a glass of Limoncello (on the house). After we finished, we left; the owner came running down the street to say goodbye and to shake our hands one more time. It was a great experience and a welcome departure from the lack of personal service that one usually finds in London restaurants.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 04, 2007

My wife and I went to Trattoria Mondello on the strength of all the rave reviews appearing here. It was a big mistake. The first indication of this, which we should have heeded, was the waiter out in front trying to drum up trade by calling out to passersby. The second sign of trouble was the waiter’s continuing to holler at pedestrians from directly behind my chair at an outdoor table. After we had moved inside, the menus were presented promptly as was the food, which, to be fair, was perfectly edible although nothing to write home about. And it’s true, as other reviewers have noted, that the wait staff are friendly and attentive -- up to a point (the point at which you want to order more wine or get the bill, the point at which you become terminally invisible). We never did get a second glass of wine; it took forty minutes for someone to fetch my credit card; and it took another twenty minutes for the owner to return it, claiming it that didn’t work. Rather than dispute this tired ploy--by now our ears were ringing from the din of other diners who had meanwhile been enticed inside and packed like kippers in a tin--we gladly paid in cash and made our getaway. My advice: avoid this noisy tourist trap unless you’re a noisy tourist yourself in search of like companionship. If you want truly delicious Italian food, competent service, and a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy these things, go to Camerino down the road on Percy Street. But keep your eyes peeled: it’s a little hard to find and there’ll be no one on the pavement with a megaphone.
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Hurrb - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Monday, June 25, 2007

We are from the North east and 25 years ago I ran a pub in Tottenham St, around the corner from this restaurant, my wife and I were frequent visitors there. We always enjoyed the food and the incredibly friendly service. We recently went to see our son who now lives in London and re-visited the restaurant. What a wonderful surprise it was to find the same people running the restaurant ( and they remembered us). The food and service as good as ever. I highly recommend it.
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Andrew Borthwick
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Visited Mondello on a recommendation and were delighted with service, food and friendliness of all staff, especially Maria and Phillipe. Maria arranged belini cocktails at our request and provided a birthday cake complete with candles for our special occasion. A delight venue that we hope to experience again on our next trip to London.
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Mike
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 31, 2007

I have been to this restaurant about five times over the last four years, and I have never been dissapointed. I usually have the aubergine starter (delicious but filling) or grilled sardines, and I really like the squid they offer as a main course. Excellend food and service, and great value for money.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 01, 2007

Went to this place few days ago-it was a nightmare!!!Service was really bad!Food was horrible!!! i would not recommend it!!!
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Kaz
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Mondello is one of the West End's hidden gems. We've eaten there for years. We travel the world for a living but always head straight for the Mondello when we return. We used to take clients to the posh restaurants in Charlotte Street and keep the Mondello for ourselves but it was a guest from one of Bali's fivestar hotels who turned our heads. She LOVED the Spaghetti Lobster, one of the staples. Unlike most moderate Italian tratts, Phillipo will happily take you on a tour of his coldstore to show you the fresh fish and meat which they hang themselves. The place is totally without pretension, the house wine is cheap and cheerful, and when Mick Jagger strolled in one evening (the photo is there as proof) he was apparently so impressed he asked for the recipe of Phillipo's soup. Maria takes pride in running a place which has to survive the jungle of coffee shops and here-today-gone-tomorrow chains which abound in the area, but the Mondello soldiers on. As a devotee of their Veal Milanese, I took great delight in reporting back one week that the Veal Milanese I'd had in one of Milan's top restaurants was WAY inferior to the Mondello's!!
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Derek
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 13, 2006