All reader reviews by Septimus Harding

Strada (New Burlington St)

Very good as every Strada I have eaten in, though this one and the one in St. Paul's are the one I have been in most often.

I'd make the same consideration here as I have made for the one in St. Pau's, only difference is the service perhaps a bit slower.

They'll give you a free limoncello for the asking, though.

With Strada you might not have the best pizza in London, but you are never disappointed. Enough in my book.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Strada (St Paul's)

Always excellent in value for money, atmosphere and general experience.

I have been there a half dozen times with friends or colleagues, I never had one single thing to complain about.

If every pizzeria were like this place, one could be much more relaxed instead of always waiting for where the next rip off is coming from (a sad trait of family-run Italian pizzerias here as well as in Italy).

Not my favourite pizzeria because the pizza is slightly inferior to Madeinitaly's and Marechiaro's, but if you choose this venue you'll never make a mistake.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Santa Lucia

Pizza good, people bad.

I ordered a tiramisu and was confronted with a bowl of cream. When I asked what this is they had to cheek to tell me "this is the tiramisu". A couple of words rapidly learnt them what I thought of such an assertion (waitress was not Italian but I am, bad luck...).

I sent the cream (it was truly that, just cream) and they came back saying that this is the tiramisu as the chef makes it.

Obviously no "tiramisu" was eaten or paid and no tip given, they had the nerve to ask why.

Never again.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0

Spacca Napoli

The pizza is very good here, but that's all the positive one can say about this venue.

The waiters or owners will shamelessly lie to you by saying that you have to wait 10 minutes when they know it will be not less than an hour just to seat and after seating will let you wait another eternity just t be able to eat; after which they'll give you a limoncello in an attempt to let you forget how deceitful and disrespectful they were. That's too clever by half and as a result they'll get no money from me if I can choose. The trick has been used both times I have visited the place and in both cases the decision to go there was a rather unfortunate group decision.

The atmosphere is very noisy on a Saturday, again the pizza is good but have some respect for yourself and do not listen to these people.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2

Marechiaro

Very near to the already reviewed madeinitaly .

Abandoned some two years ago when they changed menus restricting the number of pizzas to only six and letting the prices skyrocket, the experiment must not have been successful because in the meantime sanity has come back again (more choice, less pricey).

The atmosphere is truly excellent, although compared with the nearby Madeinitaly the space is much less and the entire experience a bit more cramped. Pizza is excellent, though, and the waiters always very welcoming and friendly.

Most of my friends prefer this place to Madeinitaly although we all agree that it is a very close call. Here you get your pizza in an individual plate, though, unlike the "metre pizza system" at Madeinitaly, a bit more colourful if you want but probably less practical. Pizza is abundant anyway and unless your appetite is truly developed a pizza and a beer will leave you satiated and very satisfied.

An excellent venue.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9

Made in Italy (Chelsea)

My favourite pizzeria in London. Pizza has never disappointed in the perhaps dozen times I have eaten there, beverage and pizza prices are reasonable (only exception: prosecco!), atmosphere is very good and quality constant. In summer, a roof terrace provides for the added atmosphere, if you go late enough in the evening to get a table.

I never went out feeling that I would have rather have eaten elsewhere and this really says it all.

Avoid the prosecco and you'll be fine.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9

Rossopomodoro (Chelsea)

Went yesterday with two friends, returning there after two years with the first attempt disappointing in what is most important, the pizza.

This time, service was slowly but not unfriendly. Strangely, there seemed to be as many pizzaioli (three in number and largely with not much to do) than waiters.

Pizzas were generally good, although mine was a bit too small, if with much cheese in it.

What we found truly disappointing is the extortionate price for the beers, with £ 3.70 for a half pint of Peroni on tap and unbelievable £ 4.70 for the Peroni Gran Riserva 33cl. This is not acceptable by any standard and things will have to change before we set foot in the place again for this reason only.

Two of us also ordered a dessert (a kind of tiramisu with not so much chantilly cream but overabundance of nutella, well presented but not so goo din the end) and the third a limoncello, being charged for it (nothing strange in that but I've read they tend to give it for free...).

Whilst the Pizza has certainly improved, the beer prices (and prices for beverages in general) make the place unattractive and one feels ripped off for a pizza quality which is not better in any way (and rather a bit inferior) than the Italian competition of, say, Madeinitaly, Marechiaro and Spaccanapoli.

Summa summarum, Rosso Pomodoro did not pass the test, although this time by a lesser margin than two years ago.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2