Stef's

Stef's is a little gem just off Oxford Street... I have been going there for the last 3 years (at least) and was last there on Friday evening (28th Oct). I've got to the age where I want to go for dinner somewhere fun but relaxing, where I don't have to shout to be heard and where the staff make me feel like I am visiting friends rather than feeling like an anonymous Londoner.... and Stefs ticks all those boxes. (Just don't tell my dad as he is Spanish and would tell me off for defecting to the Italians!)

Whilst waiting for my friend to turn up (she's always late!) Stef himself came over to have a chat, made me feel most welcome and comfortable and as always made me laugh after a stressful day at work.

As a starter I had the Funghi Misti, a delicious mixture of wild mushrooms served on toasted focaccia. I could have eaten it twice over but needed to leave room for the main course. I chose the Linguine Alla Sophia Loren. Full of prawns, mussels, calamari and a rich tomato/lobster sauce, like it's namesake, it was a dish full of style, depth and colour. And as a red wine lover I opted for the Pinot Nero (probably breaking the seafood-white-wine rules there but it hit the spot!)

Not having a sweet tooth I skipped dessert and rounded off the meal with a fantabulous glass of Hennessy brandy which was warmed to perfection. Stef - I salute you and your charming staff, look forward to many more meals and blame you for the hours I have to spend jogging in the park to burn off all those calories!!
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Manuela Alvarez
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 31, 2011

We rarely get to London these days, but when we do we try to visit Stef and his team. It’s been well over 12 months since our last visit, but we were pleased to find that the food and service were, as ever, exceptionally good.

Each of us had different starters – and we were all pleased with them. My calamari was lovely. We then all had the salmon with scallops from the specials board which was very well presented and tasty.

When we’d finished our meal we stayed chatting, killing time before travelling to Euston for our train home. We were so relaxed we nearly missed the train!
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Mrs B.
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, October 24, 2011

Good position in Noho and quite a few things are in it's favour. Food was good but the service was awful. Arrogant and unattentive waiters. It's important for restaurateurs to remember that the food is just one element for an enjoyable night out.
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Serah Macmull
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Friday, October 21, 2011

Everything's magic fantastic especially the staff....
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Mariarosaria Carratore
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 24, 2011

Visited Stefs on 09.08.11 and had a really lovely time there.

I had booked a table for 2pm for myself and my friend, but arrived at 1.30pm. This was not a problem to staff and we were welcomed inside and shown our menu. We chose the 2 courses with half bottle of wine for £19.95 each.

We both opted for the Petto di Pollo alla Fiorentina - which was delicious, the sauce was really, really good. We had dessert on the small tables outside on the patio area as it was a glorious sunny day.

The staff were helpful, friendly and warm - chatting to us the whole time we were there. A really pleasant experience and one we will repeat next time we visit London.
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9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, August 15, 2011

What a great venue for a group! I booked Stef's for 11 of us to have dinner before hitting the town on a hen night. Lots of pressure as I was organising but I needn't have worried as Stef's was the ideal place. Great food, friendly staff, good location and fantastic value for money. We did the 3 courses and wine for just under £25. The food was delicious (I was expecting nothing better than a Strada or Pizza Express type but it didn't even come close). I would recommend Stef's for groups and couples alike.
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Emma D
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 28, 2011

We visited for the first time on a Saturday early evening for a pre-theatre dinner. We explained when we arrived we needed fairly quick service and we were very efficiently and pleasantly dealt with throughout our meal, leaving in good time to get to our show.

Two of us had a pasta special and two of us ordered from the a la carte. all of the food was of excellent quality, arrived all together and was piping hot - delicious!

We all agreed the restaurant has a smart yet relaxed feel and is in a very handy location for enjoying the west end and surrounding district.

Despite being on a tight schedule we still had time for the owner Stef to come across and entertain us with a few jokes before we left. This was a nice touch and made us feel like regulars already.

We will definately go back to Stef's and would not hesitate in recommending the place. It is relaxed yet sophisticated and we noticed how clean everything was - too often rare in London these days.
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Martin - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, July 05, 2011

I have eaten at Stefs many times and have never had either poor food or poor service, dont get me wrong service isnt silver, but its very Italian, polite, friendly and good humourd. Nothing has ever been a problem, even when one of my teenagers change their mind after all the orders have been taken.

The food is a good and varied selection of Italian fare, all well cooked and well presented, its NOT all Pizza and Pasta like most Italian Restaurants.

Stef himself is a friendly "member of the family" type, who has always seemed to me driven to have a successfull restaurant by having a good restaurant, not famous or expensive but good!

I write this review now as last Saturday he organised a fabulously enjoyable party for 22 of us for my fiances birthday, they entertained our guests prior to our "surprise" arrival, wined, and fed us and having organised everything else even organised for me the most chocolatey of birthday cakes from a local patisserie.

I cannot thank him and his staff enough and sincerely hope that this review bring them more business and success, if in the restaurant game Excellent Food, Excellent Service and Great friendliness are enough he will be a very successful man.
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Graham Ford
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 04, 2011

Excellent food, Stefs always aim to please, service is great and Stefano adds the personal touch by meeting and greeting his customers however to add to the already brilliant experience I would recommend they grate the parmesan cheese on to dishes in front of you as opposed to it being pre gated.
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B
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

my wife treats me to a meal at stefs for a treat whenever we are in london, this has happened for the last ten years, a bit boring you may say, but when the quality of the food is as good as stefs you cant help but go back for more each time. i have never yet in 10 years had a bad meal, not many restaurants can say that.

the staff are amazing attentive and very friendly, the food is always brilliant and the location is perfect,

i have recommended stefs to all my friends and they have tried it and now also go back whenever they are in london.

BRILLIANT RESTAURANT
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john rogers
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 15, 2011