Zilli Fish

We had "gourmet" fish and chips... Three small pieces of frozen fish, frozen chips. I've had better in cafes; even my local pub does better for under £6. The service was adequate, but in a restaurant nothing can compensate for such mediocre food.
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Keith
3 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Saturday, May 21, 2011

I too brought a Keynoir voucher and was highly disjointed.

We arrived at 6.40, we placed out order straight away and our basket of bread arrived at Bread 6.50 – there was no oil/vinegar served with this as stated on the menu so we had to ask for this which was then served in its bottles so had to just pour onto side plate. My partners Oysters arrived at 7.10 – no shallot/vinegar or Tabasco – again we had to ask for this. Finally at 7.35 our fish & chips arrived however the portion size was pathetic. I would be interested to know that if I came on another occasion as a full paying customer would the portion size be this small if I was paying the full price as I find it hard to believe that the 2 small fish gougons & chips that we received could possibly cost £17.90

I felt highly embarrassed to walk out without leaving a service tip but I did not feel that we were given any kind of service either from the front or back of house staff that warranted any kind of tip.

The restaurant needs to some clear attention to detail and all the Aldo Zilli books out on display to buy just looked cheap and tacky.
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Sarah MH - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

We walked in on a Saturday at lunchtime and were greeted by Aldo himself who sat us at our table. We opted for the set menu which was very good value. The quality of the food was good enough but nothing extraordinary. Our bill for two people with a glass of wine came to £55. If we were at a restaurant that didn't have a celebrity chef we would have left feeling positive about the place. However, we were at a restaurant with a celebrity chef and so we left feeling as though the whole experience was a little tacky and disappointing. The decor of the place is terrible....it feels as though they can't be bothered to invest in improving it. It is run down and the toilets are terrible. There was a bicycle in the corridor outside the toilet and a tacky picture of Al Pacino on the wall. The place looked as though it needed a good tidy up. It also felt like a bit of an infomercial with Aldo's products cheaply on display everywhere,,,from his range of babyfood to his books, to his cookery classes.... Would I return? Probably not...I would rather go to Carluccios which serves well-priced, good italian food where the decor is pleasant and and where it all feels less tacky. Despite the celebrity chef Zilly Fish is not an upmarket restaurant. It's fine for a walk-in lunch on a Saturday but not for anything more special.
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HungryCaro - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 8
Saturday, April 16, 2011

We found the food to be overpriced and uninspiring. I'd been to Zilli Fish years ago down by Long Acre and had a reasonably good experience so when I saw the Keynoir offer I thought - why not because we have previously been impressed by other meals. The offer gave us two portions of fish and chips and a drink of house red, house white or beer or soft drink for £24 or so - plus £3 for service. This is apparently half-off the normal price - we would have been outraged to pay more for it.

The whole experience was completely lacklustre, in non atmospheric surroundings - it was a Wednesday evening and half full but had absolutely zero ambiance with wait staff who although perfectly pleasant were entirely concerned about upselling aperitifs, appetisers and desserts etc on top of the offer. Often these offers give you an incentive to return to a restaurant but this one had completely the opposite effect on us. The house white was surprisingly nice but the fish was utterless flavourless and watery. We will not be returning. So disappointed.
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Margaret Carr-Miller
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Thursday, April 14, 2011

Me & my Partner had a fish & chip meal here on 19th March before going on to a show, and have to say that the food we had was lovely.

The staff were very attentive (But maybe that's because the owner 'Aldo' was in the restaurant at the time)?. Never the less we were treated well, and had a good experiance at this restaurant.
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MARK KENDALL & ANGLEA PRITCHETT
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 21, 2011

I visited Zilli Fish on the 19th March and had a brilliant evening. The food was delicious and the staff really nice and service was excellent. Aldo even came over and posed with us for a photo. The spicy mackerel dish was sublime. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to others, it is great.
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Michelle Lee
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 20, 2011

Had lunch at Brewer Street today -four of us - my treat for my husband, my husband's brother and their nephew over from Oz. I travelled from Norwich by train just to have lunch at Aldo Zillis. Decor drab, greeting drab, toilets drab, food - fish and chips - not a lot of fish, great deal of batter and a lot of fat. Tasteless.

Maybe it was because I had purchased the deal through Keynoir and with hindsight Mr Zilli had decided it was a bad idea, I dont know. But we were anonymous. Mr Zilli was there in person, no eye contact with us but all over the table next to us who were obviously paying on a corporate account.

Not recommended at all, very disppointing.
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buckley51 - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 07, 2011

Not a place to visit again. Aldo has had his TV fame clouded all what paying customers expect. Terrible.
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Remo Mongiat
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Friday, October 29, 2010

Aldo Zillli comes across as a great guy and someone who is passionate about food - my partner and I bumped into him in the cafe style part of the restaurant next door and he asked us why we were leaving - we told him we were going into his restaurant instead - so he was happy.

So it was a real shame that we were very disappointed by the restaurant. Firstly, the place is frankly on the shabby side and needs a serious revamp of its decor which is a touch cheesy as well as having seen better days. The reception desk area in particluar is a complete mess.

Then the service - we waited a full 40 minutes from ordering before our starter arrived- the restaurant was only 1/4 to 1/3 full. When our main arrived my partner's fish which she had odered whole and on the bone was off the bone and chopped into 3 pieces. We sent it back. The waiter in the meantime loudly making all kinds of excuses. The manager eventually spoke to us to smooth things over.

The food was fine but it was all rather spoiled by the poor atmosphere and the bad service. We were glad to leave - especially since we couldn't do so until a full hour and a half after we arrived for a 'quick' bite!

I hope Aldo sorts the place out soon - it could be great but at the moment it is distinctly below average.
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David
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Monday, August 16, 2010

24th July had superb lunch zilli fish monkfish wrapped in Parma ham and tiramasu for dessert meal was hot tasty well presented def go back again not cheap but who cares if food is great
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Gary
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, July 25, 2010