Trattoria Montebianco

It's very strange reading some of the scathing reviews for Monte Bianco. I've been eating there for twenty years, and have always found the food very good in a down to earth, no nonsense Italian way, and the service respectful for the strangers, and familiarly friendly for the regulars, of which there are many, believe me. Regulars go back for the banter, the trusted dishes, the atmosphere, the relaxed feel of the place. It has that easy charm that ristorante all over Italy have - this place isn't meant to be some artsy West End gaff. The food may not be something Gordon Ramsay would produce - this isn't the Ritz, but it certainly isn't as bad as some of the comments would have you believe. I'd recommend any of the meat dishes - my favourites are the chicken supreme, or veal with butter and rosemary, and some of the fish dishes are superb. Simple quality and reasonable prices.
Comment on this reader review

Gary Hampton
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The food and service at this place is horrendous. The service was shocking, completely rude and self absorbed, but it was the quality of the food that really sets this place about.

I paid over seven pounds for an apple pie which was straight from Iceland's value range and was still frozen, the garlic bread which again was expensive was simply a bread stick cut in half slurried with butter and a huge stinking garlic clove dumped on top. Not even the tea is warm or of any quality. The food served from here completly lacks and hint of freshness or having been well prepared. Completely overpriced, as a customer you are utterly taken advantage of.

I live seconds from place and pass it at least four times a day, never once have I seen anyone there more than once.
Comment on this reader review

Bob
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

I've been going to this restaurant for 20 years and have never had a bad meal. Its the place I take all my friends and colleagues when they visit London, and they've all enjoyed themselves. I even had my 40th birthday party there. The staff are friendly, helpful and great company. Its one of the best value for money places in the area. I'd recommend it every time.
Comment on this reader review

Val Slade
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 22, 2007

Worst restaurant I've EVER been to. No exaguration. Seriously.

First off, while taking our order, the older gentelman who served us, insulted my friend with a racist remark when taking our order.

Second, when we asked him a question, he promptly shouted rudely at a member at our table.

Third, our meals were cold. And not particularly good either. We ate them only because we were starving.

Fourth, it wasn't until I asked a third time (after the entres were served) that he delivered our bottle of wine. No offer to taste it, and prompty poured the wine into the glasses, as quickly as he could, and spilled it all over the table. No apology.

Fifth, after asking for the bill he went and had a cigarette outside and didn't b ring it to the table.

We were seriously considering for the first time to just walk out and not pay. Especially after seeing him have arguments with other customers (which we spoke to and apparently he insulted one of the women at the table and was extremely rude to her - it seemed that everyone there was in shock and disbeleif at how bad the service was.

Absolutely disasterous meal. When we commented on how apalled we were, he pretended not to understand. He should have paid us for that one!

Do not even ever THINK of going here - if this isn't the worst restaurant in London I'd be suprised.
Comment on this reader review

Nick Wilson
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, August 05, 2007

i was staying at the melia white house, and my wife and myself decided to take a stroll along cleaveland street. as it was lunch time we decided to eat something in one of many local restaurants, we choose a very pretty italian trattoria called monte bianco, as we walked in we were welcomed by a very strange little man who we latter found out calls himself otto, he placed us in a corner table and proceded to tell us the specials of the day i had the osso bucco and my wife had a spaghetti carbonara and we both found the food very enjoyable. the problem wasnt the food it was the two so called waiters, the man called otto we found to be very loud and unpleasent, the other member of staff who actually looked like a waiter semed to be lounging around with some friends drinking wine, having owned a few restaurants in the past, i know this is no way to do buisness. i dont know how the cheff who was the only one working puts up with these clowns, if you do visit be warned, but the up side is that the do have a very good cheff.
Comment on this reader review

Richard castro
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 16, 2007

A restaurant with a real local atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and attentive and the food is excellent. I have been very fond of the Monkfish and halibut. They have quite a good wine cellar but I have always found the Montepuliciano tobe excellent
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Trattoria... hum, I don't think so. Tourrist trap more like. All we wanted were two pizzas, a seemingly simple request from a "restaurant" professing to be Italian. How wrong can it get, very it seems. The waitress was a disater, she got the drinks order wrong (we ordered a coke and a bottle of sparkling mineral water), she could not describe any of the pizza topping (there were only 4 pizzas on the menu), she litterally plonked all of the plates in front of my friend when stacking them up to take them away. But in truth, a lot can be forgiven for good pizza. Except the pizzas were dreadful. Small, oilly bases, clearly prepackaged, cheap tomatto sauce, and every topping clearly tinned or frozen... absolutely vile. I can't comment on their other more elaborate dishes, but if you can't get your basics right... Avoid at all costs.
Comment on this reader review

Francis Hutney
Tuesday, July 19, 2005