Amalfi

I used to love the old Amalfi. I knew most of the waiters and on quiter mid week nights the staff would being over a complimentary drink and have a chat and a laugh.

Since the reopening it is a disaster.

I've been going to the Amalfi for 20 years. Tonight I went for the last time.

Upstairs is now so cramped we were sat on top of the people at the next table.

We ordered olives and a basket of bread and olive oil and a bottle of wine.

What was once a basket of bread has now morphed into a basket with two small very thin slices of bread sliced in half.

The wine hadn't arrived by the time we'd finished the olives and bread (I grant you it didn't take long to eat). I had to ask for the wine again.

My partners linguine was uninspired and just about passable. My cannelloni was clearly mass produced, being generous I could say it was bought from Brakes though I suspect it was a value pack from the local supermarket. It had been microwaved and then put under a grill and was dry.

Once I'd finished it I felt as though I'd possibly eaten a starter and not a main course as the portion was so small.

The service was awful. We had to wait for ages and re-ask for everything. Once it did arrive half the staff would then descend on the table to ask if all was OK.

I feel so sad that this great little Italian restaurant has been turned into a Soho clip joint for tourists - there is unlikely to be a regular trade there now and after 20 years I won't be going back.

I couldn't even be bothered to argue about the service charge.
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Rose
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, December 03, 2006

I have been to Amalfi twice before and on both occassions I really enjoyed it. I took my girlfriend and cousin there on Monday and the whole experience was shocking.

First they got the drinks order wrong. My cousin ordered a white and was served a red; I ordered a rose and was served a white.

Then with the main order, both me and my cousin ordered the Pollo pasta. Hers came with lots of panchetta (she doesn't like pork much) whilst mine came with none and served lukewarm. My girlfriend ordered the marinara and got miniscule amounts of seafood in pasta bathed in a lot of sauce so that we wouldn't have noticed.

Needless to say we didn't want to try the deserts.

To top it off they gave us the wrong bill. I somehow wish I had taken advantage of their mistake as the "real" bill was £10 more expensive. I was even more dismayed that they had included 12.5% service charge into the bill. I don't normally query when restaurants automatically add in the service into the final bill even though I believe that is the customer's prerogative to pay it or not. But in this case the service was so dire I had to object.

I will never come here again.
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AD
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Friday, November 17, 2006

I'm not sure whether some of the staff might have come from one of those chains that encourage floor staff to be OTT friendly and jolly, but it seems rather out of place here.

I ate here on a Friday night and it was predictably busy. We sat downstairs and it was perfectly cosy, although a little too dark to read the menu!

The food isn't spectacular - the usual italian staples, but they were more than happy to modify an item to my very picky requirements, without any fuss!

I was very pleasantly surprised by the bill, too, and all the staff were very friendly. It's maybe not the swanky place for a special occasion, but I'd definitely go back again, and the location can't be beat.
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Helen - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 12, 2006

This used to be an old soho institution: i feel very nostalgic towards the cream covered salad you got with your pasta, the emptiness, the same waiters every time...Went there for dinner recently after its grand reopening, and we were hurriedly bundled downstairs, which is very noisy, crowded and has slower service. It wasn't a bad restaurant, but it feels a bit gimmicky somehow now, more hammed up italiano than it ever was originally.
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claire
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Friday, September 15, 2006

Amalfi, a Soho institution never fails to deliver - good food, a warm atmosphere, friendly service and great value for money. Since Old Compton Street was wall-to-wall 'clip joints' those in the know have enjoyed this unpretentious 'family' food-fest.
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marc
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Our group waited an hour for food, then a further ten minutes after that (!) for cutlery (despite the next table getting their food within ten minutes). Food was inedible and freezing cold. Request for hot food brought the same food back, microwaved to death. We took off the optional service charge and were pursued through the restaurant by the manager shouting that we hadn't paid our full bill. We replied that we hadn't had any service so were opting not to pay it. He bellowed 'Next time go to McDonald's' as we left. I bellowed back 'Next time, we will!'. This was a few years ago so hopefully management has changed since then..
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Suzie
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Smack bang on Old Compton Street in Soho, I had never gone in here til recently for some reason. But I was very pleasantly surprised with it.

Maybe it was because it was a chilly evening, but as soon as I arrived I felt a warmth in the place - it was so cosy.

Myself and a friend got a table by the window - a great spot for people watching ;-)

(I'm not sure the downstairs is quite so cosy).

I got a pasta mains (tagliatelle with prawn) and my mate had a pizza. Both of us were impressed with the quality of food, and the portions were recent. Also the red wine recommended by our waiter was ace.

Prices were also very reasonable .. pizzas were around 6/7 quid and pastas varied .. mine was about 9 or 10. There is also a nice selection of grilled meats.

Overall - this place isn't going to win any Michelin stars, but for the price you get a very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 22, 2006