La Collina

we dine at la collina for the first time on tuesday, after reading the review on london eating, and we really enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

Kind and professional service and of course the amazing food.

we will certainly be coming back.
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BM
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 17, 2011

Terrible and rude service. The waiter just wanted to get our money and get us out. The manager wanted to argue over a stupid, minor point, which was wrong to begin with.

Food on the other hand was nice. The chef is the only real asset this place has - she should get rid of the rest of the staff.
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2 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I have been to La Collina for dinner with my wife. Overall, a very pleasant experience: simple and perfectly executed Italian dishes, excellent wine list. Food was great, notably the fish based dishes. Desserts are amongst the best in London, including petit four that come with coffee. Service is relaxed and friendly. Will go back very soon.
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Frankie
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 20, 2010

I have dined here four times now, the first time with a friend who has been using it for years. The food is very good and authentic Italian. I quite like the shabbiness as it adds to the atmosphere.

Sadly the service seems to be going downhill and like the previous reviewer, the rather youthful staff seem to have had no training in how to wait tables or deal with customers. I do think the language may be a problem and this needs to be addressed by the owner who seems oblivious. They also add 12.5% service charge and currently it is simply not worth it.

The quality of the food (when it arrives) is still very good though.
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Mike Taylor
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Saturday, July 17, 2010

Just had dinner here this evening. Was really hoping it would be good as we live very close & would love to have a regular place to drop in for a good meal. It is still a rather shabby room (paint the place maybe ??), but things started out very well & we were pleasantly surprised. The food was much better than the last time we ate there last summer. However, once our mains were finished things went down hill. I think the person who took our desserts & coffees order couldn't understand English & certainly seemed like he couldn't speak it. One coffee arrived. Then one dessert arrived. Then sweets for the coffee arrived. Where was the other dessert ? And why were they brought out singularily like this ? Asked for my dessert - oh yes, it is coming. Asked again - that dessert takes 30 minutes, we were told. What ?? 30 minutes for a grilled peach & some ice cream ? Why weren't we told that when it was ordered ? No answer. And where are the other coffees we ordered ? No answer & no apology, & guess what ? No tip. Refused to pay the added 12.5%. A dinner is not just the main & your last impression is more important than the first. We won't be going back.
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R S Saph
4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Saturday, June 19, 2010

Went last night for a spontaneous "we don't have any food in the fridge" dinner, as we live close by. I had been here once last year, and liked it but forgot about it. Food is lovely, great short menu, I chose swordfish carpaccio which was the best I've had, including in Italy. Ravioli in tomato sauce was lovely, definitely fresh and made on the premises. My boyfriend had a bresaola starter, perfect, and mushroom pasta which he didn't really comment on, but certainly ate! Ordered a bottle of Brunello, which went down very well. Restaurant itself is very simple in decor, and can be a tiny bit intimidating to walk into as it's just one small room and echoes a bit. Once we were at a nice table near the window, we felt very confortable, tables not too close. Service was fine, nothing went wrong, bread basket was very good. Basically it's exactly what you want a restaurant to be.
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Olga
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Best Italian restaurant in North West London. Excellent traditional dishes based on fresh ingredients. Pasta is always perfectly al dente just as a true Italian would cook. Meat and fish dishes are top notch but simple at the same time, no unnecessary sauces only great food..... The wine list is a good mix of Italian wines from the main regions at a very reasonable price. Service is friendly and attentive, the owner certainly knows his stuff very well as this is a local gem....

A must for connoisseurs of Italian food in London!
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RomaLondon
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 21, 2010

Excellent Italian restaurant. It has been a pleasure tasting fresh fish properly cooked in a relaxing environment. Pasta is very tasty as well and the wines carefully selected (and not expensive).

I will come back soon to try the rest of the menu, the lovely garden outside is definitely worth another trip!
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andrea
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 07, 2009

Been to la Collina three times in the last month. I love this place! Food is simple and genuine, just like real Italian one. Tasted most of the menu and enjoyed the pastas and both meat and fish-based main courses. Starters and bread are also excellent. Had wine to drink - very good and original wine list - and espresso at the end which unexpectedly came with a little tray of petit four, a real bonus if you love desserts but are too full to go for one.

Will go back soon!
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Laura N - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 05, 2009

We liked this restaurant when it was Vegia Zena, and still think it's one of the better Italina restaurants in North London, but as other diners have noted both food and service vary a good deal. Too few of the waitresses speak English; one waiter should be fired. The tables indoors are too close together, and the bread isn''t fresh enough.

However, the fish is very good, and much of the pasta, and the garden in summer is charming - though not recommended for elderly people or those with children as its floor is uneven.
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Amanda
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, August 05, 2009