La Gaffe

I went this evening with some friends in a party of 10.

An italian lady and the South African host were well known there. It is lively and crowded and a little haphazard when busy but good fun.

The food is generally good and the portions quite reasonably sized. There is little one can say thats bad about this place.

As its in Hampstead its certainly not cheap and the bill averaged a little over £30 each including tip but most of us had about 0.6 bottles of wine each.

Its a good place to go for a nice meal out on slightly special occasions. The clientelle seems mostly in the 30-50 age range and quite smartly dressed.

Tony Glazier
Comment on this reader review

Tony Glazier
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Just out of curiosity I had a look at reviews for La Gaffe, which is one of our favourite places. I'm pleased they both agreed on the food!

Bernardo Stella (Italian) and his wife Androulla (Cypriot) opened La Gaffe (French name) back in the early sixties. A few years ago they celebrated their 40th anniversary, the place having grown into a restaurant, wine bar and small hotel. To this lovely couple and their two sons, who are now running the business, their 'regulars' are not just customers, they are almost family. My husband started going there in the sixties and introduced me to the place when we met - we had our first date there more than 20 years ago and I'm happy to say that the dover sole is as good now as it was then! That was in the days when Androulla did the cooking. There are many of us with fond memories of her marvellous french onion soup (yes I know it's an Italian restaurant but back then it was more cosmopolitan, Androulla's home-made taramasalata was also on the menu), her Sunday lunches and other delights that now would be considered relics of the 70's or 80's!

They have watched our family grow and we have watched their establishment thrive. With Androulla's gradual retirement there is now a chef in her place and his cooking is excellent. The generosity of the portions would horrify any nouvelle cuisine fans who may still exist and the quality of the basic ingredients is top notch. The wine list isn't large, but it's very well chosen. The service is always friendly and often entertaining, not pushy, and we can be assured of a good meal whether we pop in for a quick pasta or a full three course feast!

To us and many others La Gaffe is a Hampstead landmark, a comfortable welcoming restaurant where we can enjoy consistently good food and wine in an extremely convivial atmosphere. Long may they continue!
Comment on this reader review

Gillian
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

We chose this restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday. The restaurant is dated - the chairs are faded, the china old and the butter served in foil packets. However the food, especially the gnochi, was good. Gnochi is hard to get right and La Gaffe was spot on. Our mains were fine but not exceptional. The value was fair for the price. The service is enjoyably not rushed allowing you to savor your meal and the moment. The restaurant is very convenient to the tube stop and the Everyman Cinema (another great place to see a movie).
Comment on this reader review

JH
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Eccentric, cozy and delicious, this small Italian restaurant in Hampstead near the pond is alive and constantly suprising. The food is consistently excellent, the staff entertaining and the place teeming with politicians, actors and writers on the weekends. Beautiful house and select wines and a classy, simple menu that has not a medoicre dish on it's pages. Flock to this rare bird.
Comment on this reader review

JAMES PATRICK
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Sunday, December 04, 2005