"San Marco Review Friday 3rd April 2015 19:30 This is long but please read the review. Tonight my Wife I went for a meal in the San Marco Ristorante Pizzeria at 10 London Road, Paddington, London W2 1HL. I should say that I am an ex chef with some 20yrs experience in the trade, so I am VERY fussy when it comes to food and the environment it is served in. The restaurant is smallish (about 30 tables of various sizes) but cosy, well lit and very clean and well decorated. Tables are clean and neatly laid ready for you when you get to them, not rushed to be prepared once you have sat down. Italian style music. Some of the homemade desserts were on display in a clean tidy chiller cabinet. The staff are all smartly dressed in white shirt and black trousers, are attentive, very polite and it appears ALL Italian. One sign of good food is to find people of the same ethnicity eating in there and also to see a wide selection of other ethnic customers enjoying the whole experience as well. When we arrived there was a queue at the front door to get in. There was a young man who was asking how many people were in your group, then he was going inside and telling the staff what tables were needed. We only had to wait a few minutes before we led inside to a table in the middle of a crowded restaurant and given a menu. The staff were moving at a rapid pace but not so fast that they didn't have time to answer the odd question that was thrown at them. As soon as we were ready one of the Bosses (Murat) came over to take or our order. We found out from Murat that they ONLY use Fresh Meat (not frozen), Fresh Vegetables and make their own Pasta and Pizza Dough every day and that comes through in the taste of the end product The Food. The next bit is about the food, it's long but well worth the read. The drinks arrived very quickly and when I asked for more ice in my drink the waiter went away and came back with another glass filled with ice and a small spoon to serve it to me. We had to wait a few minutes for our starter, but that was understandable considering the number of customers in the restaurant. My Wife had the Antipasto and that was Salami, Parma Ham, Milano Ham, about ten Olives and Rocket and generous portions of all. I had Minestrone soup, this was the tastiest Minestrone I have had for years. Carrots, Onion, Leek, Zucchini, Cabbage? and Chopped Tomato, topped with Parmesan Cheese and Black Pepper. As I said this was the tastiest Minestrone that I have had for years and when I had finished, there was no greasy residue you get with a lot of self made soups. For our main course my Wife had Penne changed to Linguine Gamberetti on request, once again a very generous portion. It looked a bit dry when it arrived, but once the top layer was moved you could see that it actually was moist and had perfectly proportioned ingredients and very tasty. I had Veal Escalope with a Cream Mushroom sauce served with Roasted Potato segments and Green Beans. The Veal was cut into small segments and was perfectly cooked and the sauce was just so tasty and just the right consistency with small pieces of mushroom in it. As a dessert we shared a slice of Tiramisu. Too small really for two people, but it was just right for us. We rounded the meal off with a cup of espresso coffee and a Limoncello on the side. Yes at times you may wait a little for the first courses, but when you get food that is, as good as it is at San Marco, a short wait is a small price to pay for great food. I live in Poole, Dorset and would happily travel from there Just to visit the restaurant for another meal the whole experience was so good. A BIG thank you to ALL the staff, the Waiters, the Chefs, the Pot Washer, the Poor Guy outside at the front of the restaurant in all weathers and to the Management, all one happy family that help you to enjoy your visit. Try it you won't be disappointed."
