Giardinetto

This restaurant was higly reccomended by an Italian friend of ours. When I called to make the reservation I asked for a quiet table. The guy, who turned out to be the sommelier said to me that he would reserve 3 (!) tables for us and we could then choose the one we liked. But this was not the case. When we arrived, we were greeted by someone ( maybe the maitre d´ ?) who did not let us feel welcome at all.We asked for a table in the back and this person said to us that we could not have a table in the back as they were expecting some people. We were then showed a table in the front that we did not really like. Anyway, we were served by the sommelier the whole evening, there was no sign of a maitre d´and no one described anything about the menu.

The ambience ? There was none ! ICE COLD.The food was way below our expectations. As a matter of fact, the food was ludicrous. Pretending to be sophisticated but surely the food was not even average. The main course (rabbit) highly reccommended by the sommelier was cold and did not taste at all. The bread selection was poor as was the service. We were the only customers in the restaurant the whole evening. When we asked the sommelier ( the only person who was serving us ) what happened to the big party of people who were supposed to arrive, he said to us that they are there (!) but that they keep very quiet ! That was the most ludicrous thing we heard. No one ever entered the restaurant and we could clearly see that there was no one sitting in the back of the restaurant . If they were hiding someone in the back we never know. Anyway, at the end of this dinner we all asked for a decaf espresso. We were told by the sommelier ( again ) that they do not serve decaf coffee as it is not in their "concept" of doing things. How embarassing for them!

Have they ever thought about their customers while thinking out this great concept ? Surely the customer does not care about their " concept " ( it was a farse anyway ) ! When I asked how the business is going the sommelier told me that it is good but that they like to keep the place quite , meaning empty. How weird is that ? I can only say: AVOID THIS PLACE.
Comment on this reader review

Angela
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, May 23, 2008

I ate at the "old" Giardinetto in Charlotte street many times. When they moved to this new location I was one of the first to go and enjoyed it very much, visiting several times. Time passed and i realised it had been 9 or 10 months since I last visited so, last night, 29th October, I went again.

The staff have all turned over at least once since I was last there - so if you read complaints about service in other reviews, I think they have been listened to. All of the staff were polite, attentive and informative. The sommelier, from Sicily, knows his wines and is keen to make recommendations at various price points. The maitre d' has a talent for describing the menu that makes you want to eat everything on it.

Last night we had a risotto with mushrooms, a beef batuta (like a steak tartare), some papardelle with prawns and baby squid and rabbit. Everything was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. To accompany the food we had a couple of glasses of prosecco and a bottle of "kurni" 2003 - a rare wine that I've only found once in London before at Arbutus.

To round it off, the desserts - torte opera and a bellini sponge - were awesome.

It's a quiet restaurant that doesn't get as much traffc as it deserves - that should change given the new staff and the same consistently high standard of food quality and preparation.
Comment on this reader review

AlanM
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Food is sublime - head waiter is rude.

The food was great - my compliments to the chef. In fact the service was great too except when we came to pay the bill.

We asked for the wireless credit card machine to be brought to the table rather than let our credit card out of our sight - surely the whole point of these things. Not that for one minute we were expecting anything to happen in such an establishment but having had credit card fraud happen several times now it's better to be safe than sorry.

The head waiter made a huge fuss about it saying that in such a 'fine dining' establishment it looks awful and they have plenty of important diners who they want to impress. Surely every customer is important, including us? Apparently not.

Shame really - the food was amazing, particularly the Parmesan fondue with “galletti” mushrooms Antipasti, but the head waiter could do with learning some manners.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Thursday, April 26, 2007

This was a return visit to Giardinetto, but the first at its new location.

This time was a true revelation, with a seemingly increased focus on ultra well chosen ingredients. This allows the food to be simple, but beautifully well crafted, and attention to detail is apparent everywhere, from the cutlery to the crockery and not just to the kitchen and the flowers on the plate.

It allows one to truly relax and enjoy a complete dining experience.

I took a parmesan fondant to start followed by a primi pasta of a cannelloni and finally, the veal.

The parmesan (my wife had the same) will no doubt develop a cult following in time. This starter alone makes a visit to Giardinetto worthwhile, yet it was rivaled by the veal. If you're a fan of this meat (and I am) then I promise you will not taste better in this city. My only comparison would be to Jackie's in Zurich where it is the only dish on the menu. Perfect- and exquisite.

I suspect that this restaurant will fairly rapidly ascend to 'best kept secret' status and

probably beyond in London, surely soon making booking an impossibility/ tedious long term project. As it was, the place was full, although when we ate it was a Saturday night.

The service is definitely 'special' but nonetheless resolutely Italian for all that; and in a week of sampling various of London's restaurants (Nobu, Le Cercle) this one comes out on top overall.
Comment on this reader review

Barnaby Adams
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 19, 2007

I booked this for a midweek lunch and was very disappointed. The food was overpriced for what it was - my main course was beef with salad and the salad looked like a tiny pile of 'ready to eat' supermarket salad. No dressing and nothing else on the plate except a small piece of pan fried beef. My brother had swordfish which came with cubed cucumber and some rocket - no dressing and nothing else on the place. Disappointing. I asked for a glass of wine but all of the cheaper options were 'unavailable' so I had to have one very small glass for £14.

The atmosphere was also pretty dire! Only two other tables were full, far too many waiting staff and all too sparsely decorated.... I was embarrassed as I had picked this restaurant!
Comment on this reader review

kate
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 02, 2007

Potentially Giardinetto could be a really nice place (the basics are all there: the dining rooms are comfortable, the chef is obviously very talented, and the service is attentive).
Comment on this reader review

Man
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Friday, February 09, 2007

I discovered this wonderful restaurant by chance as I was supposed to dine in another top place.

The menu is quite original, different from other Italian London restaurants. I often dine in Zafferano and Locanda Locatelli, but I must say that Giardinetto seabass is superior to anything I have eaten before. I was with a friend and tried two different pastas (Raviolis and Spaghettis) and both were just outstanding, all with a interesting Ligurian red wine (cannot remember the name, definitely a place I strongly recommend!

ENA
Comment on this reader review

Ernest Nadalo Antonio
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 05, 2007

I was looking for a top Italian restaurant as despite I am French I do prefer Italian food, when it is simple and olive oil based rather than "our" butter based cuisine. So I was about to go, as usual, to one of the Michelin star Italian restaurant, when I was advised to try Giardinetto.

What a discovery! Let me start with the wine list, just fantastic, for once I did not miss the great French wines!

The food was so delicate and tasty, try the Seppioline (not sure about the spelling..), simply divine, the Lamb was so tender and well presented that I feel nobody would resist it..

The service was discreet and detailed oriented but not intrusive, in short the whole experience was refreshing; I strongly recommend others to try.

JPS
Comment on this reader review

Jean Philippe Suriton
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Today, Dec 15th 2006 is one of those days when booking at good restaurants is very hard to get - however, at Giardinetto it wasn't much of a problem, although they said we had the last table !! This was a sign !! The restaurant was barely full!

The food was very good but the service and the waiter were absolutely pathetic. The waiter (also the manager) argued with us when we gave feedback and then at one point huffed and ran off from our table. Considering the prices you pay for eating at these establishments the least you expect is courteous and good customer service - this was non existent !

Will never go back to this restaurant and will never recommend anyone.
Comment on this reader review

Subhash Desai
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Saturday, December 16, 2006

Had a meal here last night. Delicious food well presented and timed. Portions not the largest around but the meal as a whole does not leave you hungry at the end. Possibly the most delicious dessert I have ever tasted (fig cake with chocolate mousse) is worth the trip here alone.The lamb (something I would not ordinarily choose) was a pleasant surprise. A dish of spaghetti was served with a tasty and pungent tomato sauce. Service is attentive without being overwrought or annoying. Pricey, yes, but as soon as word of mouth has spread worth it.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Friday, December 15, 2006